Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-07-22
A STATE MENT.
BLcovIScToy June On 1870

Di" ONISGToN, June ~, 1907.
To the Fditors of the State-msn:
Permit NE through the columns of your
valuable paper, to call the attention of
those interested in the rtject of insurance
to a few facts connected with loss sus-
tanned by me on the lst of February last.
In the early part of the fall of 1858,
took out seven thousand dollars of insu
rance, in the following companies Three
thousand in the Peoria Marine and Fire In
surapce three thousand in the Home of
New York city; two thousand in the Etna,
at Hartford, at four per cent After the
fire had occurred. l found, after taking
account of stock. had sustained loss Of
a little over So, 400, four thousand Of this
being goods which had Just received from
New York, part of which were not yet
invoiced.
There were four of the watches, and
few small articles found after the fire. but
the balance of the goods were missing
did not doubt the probability Of the goods
being stolen, and told the agents OF the
above companies that was sure they were
stolen; which had not done, the compa-
MES would have been compelled to have
proved that the goods were not burned, and
they would have had no other alternative
than to have paid me Tor them. The sew
eral agents of the above companies came
forward and adjusted the loss, and made out
the papers on loss basis Ct twenty two
hundred and fifty dollars This was salts
factory to me, as we'll as to the agents of
the above companies, who are all gentlemen
of honor and integrity. The documents
were forwarded to the several companies
for remittance, and in the meantime, the
President of the Peoria Company, Mr.. Isaac
Underhill, happening to be here, investiga-
ted all the circumstances connected with the
loss, and was we'll pleased with the adjust
ment, and ordered the agents here to give
me draft for their share of the loss But
when the gents OF the Home ndEt ma came
here, thay declined settling on a basis Of
over eighteen hundred dollars did not de
sire any contention in the matter, and so
concluded TO settle on their terms. After
had settled with the Home and the E,na,
on basis of four hundred and fifty dollars
less than with the Peoria company. felt il
my duty to refund to the Peoria comtany
the amount, pro rata, over paid. | ca -d
on their agents, Messrs B. w 4 F. L-wi-.
Of Bloomington, and offered to refund their
overpay, pro rata; bu. they declined r-c-iv
ing it. and gave me their reasons for ST. do
ing, to wit. that as they believed that
had sustained every dollar of the loss ss frat
adjusted. they could not conscientiously
take that which did not belong to them
think the Etna and Home have taken
advantage OF my ignorance and chiseled me
out of three hundred dollars But this was
no fault Of their agents, Thomas and Rood.
as they, knowing the circumstances Of the
case, represented to the company the just
ness of my claim. fe't it due to the Peo
ria company, and their gentlemanly agents.
B W. 4 E. Lewis, to express nv kindest
sentiments of respect for them, and for their
honorable and Independent way of doing
business. And would here suggest that
If western men would insure in good west
ern companies, it would result much to their
own and the community's interest as am
fully satisfied that if the large amount of
capital paid yearly to eastern companies.
for insurance on western property, was
paid to good. sound companies at home, it
would soon place our home companies on
such sound basis that people would have
no reason for patronizing foreign companies
which are yearly draining business men of
the west ofa large amount of capital that
ought to be circulated and taxed at home.
II. d. KEAYs.
Messrs. ADAMS d Far are the agents for
this excellent company. Their Office is At
No. 10, Brady street, with Parker 4 Ed
wards.