<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
3/31/98 balance sheet and income statement and is qualified in its entirety
by reference.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       176,507,120
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                      184,455,468
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                        192,174,421
<EQUITIES>                                  33,705,585
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             422,916,259
<CASH>                                       1,820,850
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                          14,359,605
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      11,740,355
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             471,940,281
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            223,061,605
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         56,107,897
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        3,146,143
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    11,400,687
<OTHER-SE>                                 156,286,930
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               471,940,281
<PREMIUMS>                                  45,688,223
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          6,277,273
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              89,165
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  46,912
<BENEFITS>                                  30,390,250
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  9,127,619
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         5,568,038
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              6,013,327
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,534,693
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          4,478,634
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,478,634
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .39
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             217,777,942
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                         34,768,174
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (4,377,924)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                           5,520,073
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            20,262,368
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            222,295,478
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                    (4,377,924)