<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 12/31/98
balance sheet and income statement and is qualified in its entirety
by reference.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       217,499,600
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                      164,926,190
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                        174,623,439
<EQUITIES>                                  32,785,429
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             437,871,230
<CASH>                                       2,133,056
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                          16,627,791
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      12,355,482
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             496,046,352
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            245,610,323
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         61,464,051
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        1,951,683
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    11,496,389
<OTHER-SE>                                 152,441,451
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               496,046,352
<PREMIUMS>                                 194,244,405
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         24,859,063
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           5,901,049
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,700,331
<BENEFITS>                                 157,876,094
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 44,662,641
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        17,016,421
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,673,856
<INCOME-TAX>                               (2,339,009)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          6,012,865
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 6,012,865
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .53
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             217,777,942
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        168,953,309
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                         (11,077,215)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          73,228,354
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            62,949,029
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            245,610,323
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                   (11,077,215)