Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1940-04-11

roll-top desk and q $40 fountain
/ pen-said that when the insurance
company looked up Mr.. Beckett
! they got something worth while
He mentioned that he heard a wom-
an in Leroy state that when she re-
sided in Malta she sang in the same
choir with Mr.. Beckett. That WON
an was Mrs. Mary Corner Raymond
sister of Mrs. Hawley, wife Of F. HI
Hawley, president of the company
Mr.. Valentine said he was glad OF
the opportunity to try and do Mr.
Beckett honor and hoped that he
would continue to represent the
company for another SIS years
The executive vice president, C.
d. McVay, son of the late Dr. Nc
Way, of Athens county, remarked
that man who represents an insur-
ance company for so years, is
proof of his character, steadfastness
and ability. He mentioned the
changes in the country that have
taken place since Mr.. Beckett enter
ed the insurance business-the ad-
vent of typewriters of telephones,
electric lights, automobiles, electric
refrigeration, etc., and said that SO
years ago the population of our
country was 62,00O,O0O, and now it
is more than double that. 'Institu-
tions" the speaker said, "are made
up Of people, and their personality
is reflected in the success of the
business He stated that the Ohio
Farmers Insurance company is
more than just a business, that into
it is built character, and strength,
which is represented in the trade
mark of the company-"The Old
Man on the Fence" which portrays
something over and above dollars
and cents-such as simplicity,
strength of character and person
ality. He remarked that the agents
love that emblem Of the company,
ett by presenting him a bronze fig
ure of "That Man on the Fence" :"
and with it the love, affection and
admiration of the company. We
understand that it is seldom these
bronze emblems have been present.
ed-perhaps not more than two or
three times.
Mr.. Beckett's daughter, Mrs AM
brose Middleton, made the response
in which she expressed their very
keen appreciation of the gathering,
and what it meant to them.
Those present included G. d. Nc
Way, the executive vice president;
j. c. Hiestand, secretary: c. E.
Jones, treasurer; G. S. Valentine.
assistant secretary, and w. w. Wa
ters, James Brown, John Best,
Earl Amadon and D. P. Ely, special
agents. Others present were, in ad-
dition to the guest of honor, his
wife, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Mid
dleton, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Gray,
Rev. and Mrs. G.. l.. Tennell, Paul
Heron, Raymond Durbin, Rufus X.
Brown, J. G. Scott, Mrs. Mabel Mace
and B. F. Reed. The latter has car
ried an insurance policy longer with
the Ohio Farmers company than
any other person in the county.
The Ohio Farmers Insurance
company was chartered in 1848.
Mr.. Beckett informs us that Chalk
ly Frame of Muskingum county was
the first Ohio Farmers Insurance
agent in this county Next was
Judge w. H. Leeper, brother of DR..
j. F. Leeper. Then came A. P.
Whitaker A few years later Mr.
Beckett purchased Mr.. Whitaker's
interest and for many years he was
the sole owner of the business until
the late L. T. Gray purchased an in
terest, which was in 1900, and upon
the death of the latter eight years
ago, Frank N. Gray took over his
fathers interest.