Evening star., 1931-12-27
"reminiscences of the First Co-Operative
Association for the Insurance of Prop
erty in America, Formed in Fairfax,
Va, in 1865, for Mutual Protection.

right for the first time. This was Miss Eliza
beth NJ. Sharpe, at that time the owner of
Woodlawn Mansion. She remained on the
socety's roll until she sold Woodlawn to the
late Senator Oscar Underwood.
Candidates for membership had to be men
of good character, 18 years older and had
to be vouched for by several members in good
standing. While the bylaws provided that
any member convicted Of felonious offense in
any court Of justice or behaving in a disorderly
fashion should forfeit all rights and claims as
member Of the company, it is not on record
that any member ever SO strayed from the
narrow path Of rectitude that he had to be
disciplined by expulsion from the company.
So well cid this company function that 1t is
record that there has never been q horse
stolen from one Of its members without re-
covery. On one occasion q stolen was
not recovered until after it had been butchered,
but its carcass was returned and an indemnity
paid the owner.
The company is still big protection In
the neighborhood. Nothing is ever stolen from
its members. Threat of activity by the men,
bers efTectually broke up what last year prom
ised to be an epidemic Of poultry stealing in
Mount Vernon district. AS horses and wag-
ons gradually gave place to motor vehicles,
protection was extended to cover members au-
tomobiles. With the advent of commercial au-
tomobile and theft insurance, however, the
a moral force in the community
Membership in the Horse Company was at
first limited to persons living within radius
Of miles of the meeting place, this being later
increased to miles. members property was
protected within radius of IS miles.
Every member was required to file with the
president within 10 days after each annual
meeting description of all the horses he
wanted protected, with their peculiar markings
and brands In 1878 the constitution was
amended to embrace the protection of all farm
animals and property.
Any member whose live stock was stolen gave
notice Immediately to the president of the
company. The president then notified the di-
rectcrs who in turn called out as many men,
bers as the case required. Any member who
refused or neglected to turn out Immediately
suitably equipped to ride his route in search
OF thief and stolen property was required to
forfeit IS unless he could provide a satisfac-
tory excuse. Whether it was because of the
excellent cooperation which prevailed in the
neighborhood or due to desire to avoid pay
ment of the f1ne the old minutes do not show
a single instance where members failed to an
swer the call for aid In good weather and
bad, they responded gallantly, oftentmes over
roads their descendants would hesitate to at
tempt in the best Of weather.
A LII roads in the territory were mapped into
routes, two or more members being assigned
to cover each route. The strictest secrecy was
enjoined to keep any information on these
Assignments from the knowledge Of non-rnem-
bers.. Every member was pledged to follow
horse thieves on his route for 40 miles. He
was required to travel at his own expense on
a general call, but if he had reason to believe
he was on the route taken by the thief he was
expected to continue the pursuit as long as
there was any prospect of success For this
extra service he was entitled to receive a COM
pensation out of company funds
If pursuit proved unsuccessful. the president
and directors then advertised the loss generally
in the Alexandria Gazette, offering a reward Of
500 for the capture or conviction of the thief
Members who failed to recover stolen horses