<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
       
<S>                             <C>                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998                  SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        73,014,104                   72,019,350
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                            0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                            0
<EQUITIES>                                 138,309,045                  140,930,793
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                            0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                9,027,774                    7,868,693
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             221,457,464                  226,341,201
<CASH>                                         398,876                      475,062
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0                            0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      13,300,265                   14,118,308
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             265,270,736                  274,422,983
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             77,021,272                   63,196,214
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         44,444,124                   48,559,499
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                            0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0                            0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0                            0
<COMMON>                                    11,526,008                   11,484,503
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                            0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                            0
<OTHER-SE>                                 119,165,786                  123,765,332
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               265,270,736                  274,422,983
<PREMIUMS>                                  67,554,605                   64,559,628
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          6,891,630                    6,240,578
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           7,569,431                    4,030,552
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  75,866                       20,746
<BENEFITS>                                  39,961,444                   43,853,551
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    886,676                   (1,139,994)
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        22,588,628                   23,354,237
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             18,654,784                    8,783,710
<INCOME-TAX>                                 5,355,204                    2,122,590
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         13,299,580                    6,661,120
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                            0
<CHANGES>                                            0                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                13,299,580                    6,661,120
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.19                         0.60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.18                         0.59
<RESERVE-OPEN>                              71,472,338                   47,702,363
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                         32,124,000                   27,173,032
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                            7,837,444                   16,680,519
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          13,293,000                   11,465,627
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            21,119,510                   16,894,073
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                             77,021,272                   56,385,730
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                            0
        

</TABLE>