<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 36,482,744 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 300,240,409 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 344,530,000 <EQUITIES> 290,345,559 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 671,540,490 <CASH> 0 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 78,825,712 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 32,238,675 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,109,345,195 <POLICY-LOSSES> 472,162,460 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 149,263,642 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 74,897,005 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 12,795,765 <OTHER-SE> 279,689,524 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,109,345,195 <PREMIUMS> 45,789,478 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,234,223 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 23,333 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 21,072,462 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 17,322,607 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 3,662,168 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,659,181 <INCOME-TAX> 2,081,400 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,577,781 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,577,781 <EPS-PRIMARY> .63 <EPS-DILUTED> .63 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0