KANSAS INSURANCE RECORD

JANUARY 1885

VOL. 4. NO. 1

Published Semi-Annually by

BRANIFF & CRAVENS,

General Insurance Agents

Salina, Kansas

List Of Parties Claims Were Paid To

List Of Persons Who Have Been Insured

Page 1 We publish Volume 4 No. 1 of the RECORD in a little different form. We think a four page paper a little more convenient. The difference in size however, is not material, as there is fully as much, if not a little more reading matter than in the Eight page edition. We also drop out all the names put on the books prior to July 1st '84 and publish only new business, that is to say business done between July 1st, '84 and Jan. 1st, '85. In addition to the names we also give the amount insured by each party. We give a few receipts for losses paid since our last issue and a partial list of those published in former numbers of this paper. Enough however, to clearly show our manner of settling claims for honest losses. Were it necessary we could furnish a great many more receipts of the same kind, but we have no space for them. We also call attention to our line of companies published in another column. They are all well known, reliable companies and you have twelve to choose from. Don't forget these facts when you want insurance. "HE DIDN'T INSURE." C.O. Wheaton 20 miles s.e. of Salina had his dwelling house and contents destroyed by fire on the 15th inst. He was solicited to insure the same about ten days beforehand, but like many others. "I never lost any thing yet and it would be paying money for nothing for ME to insure." We heartily sympathize with Mr. Wheaton in his disaster, but can not avoid mentioning his experience for the benefit of those who delay that which is essential to the welfare of themselves and families. He was NOT Insured. We still have the best facilities for doing a general insurance business of any agency in Central Kansas. The main feature of our business is the fact that we do all the business at home ourselves - not by calling in third parties in the settlement of losses - we consider this of great importance to the policy holder. In fact experience has shown it to be the case. We write all policies of insurance here. You know just what the contract is and what the conditions of the policy are before you accept it. You pay for it here. No matter whether you pay cash or give a note, it is all the same. And if a loss occurs we adjust and pay the money here without delay. We think it worth while to give these facts prominence, because they are important to the insuring public, although almost everybody has had and now has property insured with us, and knows what we say to be true, without our making mention of it here. "THE BURLINGTON INSURANCE COMPNAY IN TROUBLE AT HOME" We are informed by reliable authority, that the State Auditor in making an examination of the books of the Burlington Insurance Company, of Burlington, Iowa, found their capital impaired about $40,000. And has notified the company to put up the deficiency, they refusing to do so, the auditor proceeded to revoke their license to do business the State, when the Company appealed to the Courts for a temporary injunction restraining him from doing so. We have not heard the final termination of this trouble, but if the Auditor is right, and the Company's capital is impaired, as reported, she should not secure the support of the Insuring public, as a company without surplus and with less than $100,000, capital is "small fry." The Burlington Insurance Company scarcely ever has a permanent abiding agent at any one place, but employs "floating nomadic agents who are here to-day, and some place else to-morrow. They have no Recording Agents in this county, and any person who holds a policy in this company and wishes an endorsement or a transfer made, is put to the trouble of sending their policies to Burlington, Iowa, for that purpose. Why not insure with the agent of the GERMAN INSURANCE COMPANY, a good reliable Company, whose agent resides in your county permanently, and who has not only the authority to write your policy and make all endorsements, but settle the losses. We pride ourselves in doing this satisfactorily. Make no more bad breaks, therefore, insuring with any other than an agent who can write your policy here and do all the business connected therewith, right here at home. We have yet to hear of one dozen policy holders in this county, who hold policies in the Burlington Insurance Company who express themselves entirely satisfied - and once you give your note to them, they will not willingly give it up again without you pay it all. We have in our mind a case where a man gave his note to them for $68, and about five days after wished to cancel his policy. They absolutely refused to do so until he paid all of his note, when they would return him what money they chose, which would probably be "much" when finally an attorney at Salina wrote the Company a notice to cancel the policy; they asked him to remit $37.50 to them, and they would return him the note. Think of it - this is the Burlington. Call on us for anything in the line of school furniture. We handle the best furniture made and sell it fifty per cent cheaper than you can get it at other places. Do not bring any more windmills into our office to insure - we don't like them, we don't make any money out of them - they will blow down and then we will have to pay for them.

The amount of property burned during the last ten years has been, according to information received from the best sources, each year as follows: 1875 - $ 78,102,285 1876 - $ 64, 630,600 1877 - $ 68,265,800 1878 - $ 64,215,900 1879 - $ 77,703,700 1880 - $ 74,643,400 1881 - $ 81,280,900 1882 - $ 84,505,024 1883 - $100,149,228 - and the estimate for 1884 is the appalling sum of $105,000,000 - a total of over $800,000,000 for the ten years, or over $80,000,000 per annum. Now the property thus destroyed has been absolutely annihilated - turned into worthless ashes - the country is so much poorer, and taxation upon what remains has been made thereby a needless burden. This great and growing waste no country can long endure, and should receive immediate attention and check. Our great cause of this ever increasing waste is to be traced to carelessness - not alone criminal carelessness, ___ ______? on the part of the honest property holder, and to this source alone it is estimate fully one half of the fires are to be attributed. An apt illustration of this is the fact that during the first few months following the great conflagrations of Chicago and Boston, in 1871 and 1872, when there was great uncertainty in the public mind as to the soundness of Insurance Companies, leading to unusual care of property of all kinds, the losses were very small - merely nominal. It is with a view to avoid the necessity of a general increase of rates of premium - otherwise inevitable - that we appeal for the active co-operation of all classes of people in measures to materially lessen this awful destruction of property. The Insurance Companies have done and are doing their full duty to encourage careful construction, good water supply, efficient Fire Departments, thorough inspection and general improvement of risks, and the punishment of incendiaries, and it now remains for the people to remedy the existing evil and ward off the peril which impends. 1st. By encouraging in every way the better construction of buildings. 2d. The improvement of Fire Departments and supply of water. 3d. By the appointment in each city, town or village of a Fire Marshall, or person with authority to investigate the cause of fires. 4th. By using greater care in the handling of matches, in the use of kerosene oil, and all other products of petroleum, by keeping ashes outside of buildings, by constant watchfulness with regard to heaters and hot air flues and chimneys, and in every such way as they would do if insurance did not exist. Without such aid from the public, the result will be that the Insurance Companies, as a matter of protection to their Stockholders, must cease insuring - or the rates must be largely increased. In the first number of this paper Jan'y 1st, 1882, we published a list of names of all the parties insured by us up that time. It has been our custom since that time to publish in addition to the first list, all new names taken previous to each issue of the paper, or as many as our space would allow. The list has been so lengthy that we cannot give it complete any more, as it would occupy more than the entire space of the paper. We therefore in this issue, confine ourselves to those names which have been placed upon our books since July 1st, 1884, the date our last paper was published, and a very comfortable showing it is, too. IMPORTANT REASONS. WHY YOU SHOULD INSURE YOUR PROPERTY WITH BRANIFF & CRAVENS 1st. Braniff & Cravens represent the largest number of companies with the largest Combined Assets of any Agency in the State. 2nd. They have had the LARGEST EXPERIENCE in the Insurance business of any other Agents in Kansas, hence are able to write a more intelligent Policy and write your Insurance so as to cover not only a PART, BUT ALL of your property. 3d. They have had considerable experience over the Insurance field as ADJUSTERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS of Agencies, and have thus had an opportunity not enjoyed by others of learning how Insurance should be written so as to be most BENEFICIAL to the Insured, and yet be honorable with the company. 4th. They adjust and pay their own losses at home, without having to send East for an adjuster. 5th. They give you all the time you can consistently desire to pay your Insurance Premium, providing you do not want to pay cash. 6th. They have facilities for writing Insurance on almost any conceivable kind of property, in any shape and for any time from one day to five years. 7th. They reside permanently in Salina, and are perfectly responsible for all their actions. 8th. They aim to treat all their patrons alike and give them good and reliable indemnity at MODERATE and LIVING RATES, not wishing to do business only for a day, but for all time, and they expect to retain all their patrons as friends. 9th. They are now doing the largest business of any Agency in the State. 10th. They do NOTHING BUT INSURANCE, hence, are able to give their entire attention to it and are more apt to be correct. 11th. They are the PIONEER TORNADO INSURANCE AGENTS OF KANSAS. 12th. They will endeavor to treat all with honor and courtesy who transact business with them. Office over Postoffice. We loan short time money on personal security.

PAGE 2 SOMETHING ABOUT INSURANCE COMPANIES There were seventy fire Insurance Companies doing business in Kansas, during the year 1883. Of this number, sixty-five were stock companies, and five were mutuals. A glance at the annual report of the State Superintendent of insurance for that year, gives some idea of how much money there is in the insurance business at the present rates. Some people imagine that all the companies are coining money every year, and that a company may be successfully managed with but very little or no money at all. People who are of this way of thinking are manifestly misinformed or possess no information at all on the subject. If we take the figures shown by the Superintendent's report, we must conclude that the leading companies of this country are not getting rich very fast. The expenditures of fourteen of the sixty-five stock companies doing business in this State, exceeded the income from all sources, int some cases nearly $100,000. Eighteen of these companies paid no dividend on stocks. The per cent of premiums received paid for losses and expenses, exceeded 100, in the case of twenty of these companies; not including amounts paid for dividends. The highest per cent of premiums received paid for losses and expenses was 112.4. The lowest was 79.6. The per cent therefore, of premiums received paid for losses and expenses, ranged from 79.6 to 112.4, not taking into account the amounts paid for dividends. So far as the premium income of these companies is concerned, there was absolutely nothing left for dividends on stocks. had it not been for the fact that they all had other sources from which to derive an income, some of them would undoubtedly have retired from business - in fact, some of them did retire, the stockholders wisely concluding that they could invest their capital to better advantage in some other way. The question naturally arises, why is this? Certainly not on account of mismanagement? If one will but take the trouble to look at the list of the companies referred to and investigate the matter thoroughly, it will be ascertained that they are all carefully, honestly, prudently and economically managed. The real secret of the whole matter is that losses must be paid and the more losses, the more money it takes. If the rate of premium charged is inadequate, the business must be conducted at a loss. This is common sense and may be applied to any other kind of business. The fire losses for the year 1883 were $100,000,000. This give an idea of how much money may be needed for losses alone. If the figures given by the Superintendent of insurance show any thing, it is that it takes money to carry on an insurance company successfully, and that the companies have not been charging too much for the risks they have assumed. We are referring to stock companies only. The mutuals organized and doing business in Kansas not being considered for the reason that they have taken in but little and paid out less, leaving in most cases, their losses to take care of themselves. It is certainly a fact as a business proposition that if a man carries a policy for $1,000 and sustains a loss to that amount, it takes exactly $1,000 to pay it, if an honest loss, and no rational man would pay even the small sum of ten cents for a policy in any company, if he did not think that there was a reasonable prospect of getting his money promptly in case of loss. And as losses are to be expected and are actually occurring to all kinds of property all the time, they must be provided for in some way. The only way to do this is to have the money on hand and as soon as satisfactory proofs have been received of an honest loss, pay it over to the policy holder. In order for the company to get this money for losses, they must charge for the risks they assume whatever experience with the class of business insured shows it to be worth. The report of the Superintendent also shows that the stock insurance Cos. doing business in this country have not robbed anybody, nor are they trying to do so. The Stock companies are the main stay of the business. When you have done away with them, there will be no such thing as indemnity known, and it is time this fact was appreciated. All they ask is a margin sufficient to pay losses and expenses and a reasonable interest on the capital actually invested. This any reasonable man will admit they ought to have. The fact that they have not been getting it, shows conclusively that rates have not been too high and that however cheep a scheme may look on paper, it takes money - hard cash - to pay losses, and no man will satisfied with anything else, when misfortune overtakes him. We might add in conclusion, that the time to take these matters into consideration is before you insure, not afterwards, as it may possibly be too late then. Remember that in all cases, you do well to give a wide berth to the agent of whatever character, who undertakes to give you something for nothing. THE GERMAN INSURANCE COMPANY The German Insurance Company of Freeport, Illinois, has become very popular and deservedly so. The name has become a household word in Saline county. Every body knows that a policy in the German means fair and square treatment in case of loss. The company is amply able to take care of any and all losses that can possibly occur, having in the neighborhood of $1,700,000 assets; she combines capital with age and experience. Her prompt dealing." During the year 1882 the business written by the German in Kansas amounted to $5,934,234; for which $134,841.67 was received in premiums. This is the best evidence of the company's popularity in Kansas. We desire to keep the fact prominent before the public that the German of Freeport is the Pioneer Tornado Company, and so far as we are informed the first Tornado policy ever written in Kansas was issued by us in this company. The right to do tornado business was secured by the company's charter in the year 1865. The German has therefore had more experience in this class of business than all other companies combined. The company having the age, capital and practical business experience, with the Germans reputation for honesty and prompt settlement of losses, is certainly the company to insure in. Avoid all experimental concerns and insure in the German. THE GERMAN ALWAYS AHEAD SALINA, KAN., NOV. 8, 1882 My barn with three horses, a small quantity of corn, some hay in stack, and a cultivator, and one set of double and one set of single harness were destroyed by fire on Saturday night, the 4th inst. On Wednesday, the 8th inst. I received from the German Insurance Co. of Freeport, Ill., through Braniff & Cravens, agents at Salina, Kansas, $381.40, the full amount I was insured for, just four days after the fire occurred. They have treated me gentlemanly and liberally, and I can safely recommend them as trustworthy and honorable. A.J. Cole Salina, Kansas Feb 1, 1882

PRESERVING PLATE GLASS Curious Methods of the Police to Punish Mischievous Children. In Philadelphia, within the past few months, the police have had to resort to the practice of searching the pockets of the school children by members of the force, to take away the latest style of bean-shooter, which is powerful enough to kill at short range, because of the danger to human beings and the large amount of glass that was being broken. But destructive as this particular instrument was in that city, New York has the unenviable notoriety of having more plate glass broken, not only in actual amount, but in proportion to quantity used, than any city in the world. In 1884, the Lloyds' Company alone, of the number engaged in the business of insuring plate glass, paid 761 losses for breakage's in this city. The great loss in this city, which is twice as much in proportion as in Philadelphia, Boston or Cincinnati, and far greater than any other city, is not the result of carelessness, by any means, but for the greater part results from pure maliciousness and hoodlumism, the breakage from thrown stones and other missiles accounting for more than half the damage, or in other words, exceeds the total results of carelessness, fire, accidents of all kinds, and that intentionally broken by burglars. Now, we can see no reason why this state of affairs should continue. For in a city with the amount of police protection paid for that there is in this, it seems as if there should be some power to prevent the greater part of this malicious damage, and we must ask the Police Commissioners, or others in authority, to look after this matter, for though it may be difficult to arrest a person in the act of throwing the missile, there ought to be interest enough felt to detect and punish the culprit, even though this offense seems small in comparison to other crimes, though in the aggregate it entails a vast loss in our mercantile trade, and is one reason among many why it is so extensive to carry on business in this city. There is no doubt that if the police would earnestly take the matter in hand and use a little shrewd detective work that they could arrest and have convicted some of the offenders who are doing this great damage and thereby deter others from wanton destruction or the wreaking of their petty spite on the property of those whom they believe have done them an injury, or who do not consider it to their interest to close their stores at a certain hour fixed upon by others. In view of the fact that the breakage of plate glass is equal to 12 1/2 per cent in each year, it seems folly to have to impress upon the business man the necessity of insuring such fragile property, but merchants who would not allow a fire policy to lapse for even one day, though the chances for loss are not one-quarter as great, will heedlessly run the risk of breakage from accident and design and take no steps to insure themselves against the losses which are sure to come sooner or later. Outside of the maliciousness, to which attention has been called, the causes of broken glass are too numerous to mention in detail, for besides the usual and expected causes, such as buglers, runaway horses, slamming doors, settling buildings, carelessness in handling goods and falling articles. In 1875 the Lloyds Association, of which Mr. James G. Beemer was the promoter and one of the managers, began the business of insuring plate glass in all forms against breakage from causes not covered by the owner's fire policy, at first finding little encouragement and much opposition; but by hard work and extension of capital they made it a permanent success, so that by 1882 they considered it better to form a joint stock corporation, and in August of that year, the Lloyds' Plate Glass Insurance Company was organized with Mr. James G. Beemer as President and Mr. W.T. Woods as Secretary, with a cash capital of $100,000, invested in Government bonds and deposited with the Insurance Department of the state of New York. It settles all losses promptly, the mere notification that the damage has occurred being the only necessary act to have it repaired. The company is now on a strong financial footing, its total assets on Jan. 1st being $180,000, while its premium income for 1884 was the largest of any similar corporation in the world (there being several large ones in Great Britain and on the Continent with which to compare) and amounting to $133,000, and its addition to assets amounting to $27,000. The rates charged by this company are fair and liberal, though of course greater than what is charged for a fire policy, for the reason shown in the former part of this article, that the percentage of loss is far in excess of the average loss by fire. Perhaps the extent of its business can best be shown by a few statistics and illustrations. There are necessary to conduct the business three trucks and eight men to replace the broken glass, its annual loss being about seventeen hundred in number, at a cash cost of $52,000, representing glass enough for two hundred and forty store fronts or over a mile of street if every front was plate glass, and all these losses have been promptly and satisfactorily made good, which we consider an excellent reason for the continued success of this company and is no doubt the fundamental cause of their prosperity.

D.&J.B Whitehead, JEWELERS Diamonds, Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Etc. Repairing a Specialty KINGMAN & CO., DEALERS IN SHELF And HEAVY HARDWARE, Farming Implements and Machinery of all Kinds ******* We are Sole Agents for the Celebrated CASADY SULKY PLOW. You can try it, and if not satisfactory return it without charges. Kothe Block, - - Salina, Kan. ANDERSON & LINDBLOM, Merchant Tailors, Iron Avenue. Salina, Kansas Fine Domestic and Imported Goods ALWAYS ON HAND We purchased the largest and most complete Stock of Goods ever brought to Salina, and guarantee a fit in every instance. If you are going to need a SUIT of any description give us a call. East of Postoffice. Hamilton, Hardison, Colins & Co., Salina, Kan. LOAN MONEY ON REAL ESTATE SECURITY BUY AND SELL City, Township, County and School Bonds

THE GERMAN Fire Insurance Co., OF PEORIA ILLINOIS, A Reliable and Progressive Company, Insures against FIRE, LIGHTNING AND TORNADO. Furnishes Indemnity of the most positive character. SAFE, CONSERVATIVE, PRUDENT. Policies Issued in both the English and German Languages. Whitehead & Seaman Invite you to CALL AND EXAMINE The Largest and Best Stock of BOOKS, STATIONERY, AND Wall Paper Salina Herd of Recorded Poland-China Swine For purity of Breeding they are un-surpassed in the West. I have few choice FALL PIGS Sired by the fine Boar I sold last summer for $150. I am using one of the best Boars in the State this season. Prices low considering quality of Stock. Call on or address, T.R. DIVILBLISS, Salina, Kansas. A.B. McCONNELL, REAL ESTATE AGENT, Office Iron Ave., Over Post Office Salina, Kansas Engaged exclusively in the sale and exchange of Real Estate. Publishes "The Real Estate Reporter." the best paper in the State in which to advertise lands for sale, and has a yearly circulation of twenty thousand copies, largely in the east. All property advertised free of charge. Advertise your property in the "Real Estate Reporter" It will pay you. Remember it is free, and costs you nothing.

Page 4 FIRE, LIGHTING AND TORNADO We publish in this issue of the RECORD, voluntary statements in the nature of receipts of parties to whom we have paid, partial an total losses by Fire, Lightning and Tornado. The parties are all well-known residents of Saline county. This is a fair illustration of our manner of settling honest claims, and those who have any hesitancy about insuring may set their fears on that score at rest, so far as concerns any of our compnies. RECEIPTS SALINA, KAN., May 9th, 1884 All of my property has been insured in the German Insurance Co., of Freeport, Ill., for over nine years. On the 9th day of April, 1884, a prairie fire caught me and destroyed $1,353.49 worth of said property besides my orchard and other property not insured. Two day after the fire Braniff & Cravens came to my place and adjusted the loss, and I received from them today one thousand three hundred and fifty-three and 49 100 dollars ($1,353.49) in full payment of said loss, and to my satisfaction, the scandalous tongues of some of their enemies to the contrary notwithstanding. Through the whole transaction of the loss they have made no effort to take the least advantage of me. C.C. HAHN SALINA, KAN., June 5th, 1884 On the 10th day of May, 1884, my barn together with some other property, to the amount of $142.90, was destroyed by fire. I have this day received of the German Insurance company, the sum of $142.90 to my entire satisfaction, through Braniff & Cravens, who adjusted and paid me the same. The above being the amount of my insurance in the said German Insurance Company. A.D. SHERMAN THE GERMAN AHEAD AGAIN My kitchen with all its contents was destroyed by Wednesday night's storm. I have insured at the agency of Braniff & Cravens at Salina. On my place and settled the loss to my entire satisfaction, allowing me liberally for everything I lost, and I gladly recommend them and their compnay (the German) to the patronage of the farmers. Oct. 13, 1882 JOHN CRAIG Loss by Fire SALINA, NOV. 2, 1883 Received of the German Ins. Co., of Freeport, Ill., through Braniff & Cravens, agents for said company at Salina, Kansas, the sum of $212.19 in full payment and satisfaction of loss by fire, which occurred Oct. 8, 1883, to my dwelling house. The loss was adjusted and paid by Braniff & Cravens promptly and satisfactorily. ANDREW MIKELSON BROOKVILLE, KAS., March 27, 1883. Messrs. Braniff & Cravens Dear Sirs: - I received your check to-day and am very well pleased with you for being so prompt in your business. WM. P. FRITZ A prairie fire destroyed some farm implements and a harness for m on the 9th inst; they were insured with Braniff & Cravens, of Salina. They came here on the 16th and paid me in full for all that was insured, and otherwise treated me white. (sic) WM. P. FRITZ SALINA, KAS., March 17, 1883 I was insured with Braniff & Cravens, and on the 13th of March, 1883, a prairie fire destroyed 180 bushels of corn for me in the crib. Mr. Braniff came to my house on the 15th of March - the second day following - and paid me $48.90, the full value of my property destroyed, and otherwise treated me like a gentleman. I can safely recommend these men as honest and trustworthy. JAMES QUESTED During the storm on Monday the 17th inst., Mr. John Daleen who lives two miles west of Falun P.O., had a stack of wheat destroyed by lightning, and his neighbor on the south Mr. Peter Soderberg, had a calf killed from the same cause. Both gentlemen were fortunate enough to be insured. Braniff & Cravens, with whom they were insured, went out on Friday last and adjusted and paid the losses. Mr. Daleen's loss amounted to $61.05 and Mr. Soderberg's $12.00. - Saline County Journal, July 27 This is to certify that my property including grain in stacks, was insured at the agency of Braniff & cravens, Salina, and that on the 17th of July, I had one stack of wheat destroyed by fire originated by lightning, and that on the 21st of July, four days afterwards, and one day after receiving notice of the loss, Messrs. Braniff & Cravens paid me in full $61.05, the entire amount. JOHN DALEEN Salina, July 22, 1882 SALINA, KAN., June 13, 1883 Received of the German Insurance Co., of Freeport, Ill., through Braniff & Cravens, agents, one hundred and sixty dollars in full payment and settlement of a loss of horses by lightning. The loss occurred on the 11th of June and I received my money on the 13th. THOMAS JOHNSON Received of the Watertown Co., N.Y., through Braniff & Cravens, agents, the sum of eight hundred and one dollars and ninety-three cents (801.93) in full payment and to my entire satisfaction, of loss and damages by fire to my foundry proprety, which occurred on the 25th day of August, 1881. I had a fair and liberal adjustment from the company, and I can recommend it as reliable and trustworthy. H.O. BALL - Salina, Kan., May 6, 1882 I have this day received of the German Insurance Company of Freeport, Ill., the sum of three hundred dollars ($300), the full amount for which my dwelling house and furniture was insured by said company against Tornadoes, Cyclones and Wind storms. The company has paid me every cent for which my property was insured, and I am perfectly satisfied that its managers and agents are honorble and honest men, and will represent nothing but what they are ready and able, in case it is necessary, to subslantiate. N.B. DWINNELL Salina, Kan., May 6, 1882 Salina, Kan., May 6, 1882 I have this day received of the German Insurance Company, through Braniff & Cravens, agents, $634.30, in full settlement of loss by fire to my property, on the 15th of November, 1881. JOHN KELLEY SALINA, KAN., Oct 15, 1884 - Received of Braniff & Cravens, $150.00, insurance money. My horses were insured with them for $150.00, and were burned Oct 12th, 1884. Oct 13th they adjusted the loss, and Oct. 15th, paid me every cent coming to me, $150.00. They treated me honorably. PETER NELSON SALINA, KAN., Oct. 28th, 1884 My barn was destroyed by fire on the 12th day of October, 1884. On the 13th day of October, 1884, the next day after the fire, Braniff & cravens came to my place and adjusted and paid the loss in full, $164.45, and otherwise treated me honorably. It was insured in the German Insurance O., Freeport, Ill. Z. GABRIELSON My property was all insured in the German Insurance Co. of Freeport, Ill., with Braniff & Cravens, at Salina, Kans. My barn, granary and corn crib, with some implements and grain, were lately destroyed by fire. They put up $680.63, full amount of my loss, immediately, and otherwise treated me honorably. GOTTLIEB STOLPER Salina, Kans., Nov. 15, 1884 Received of the German Insurance Co. of Peoria, Ill., through Braniff & Cravens, agents at Salina, Kansas, three hundred and ninety dollars, in full payment of loss by fire to our barn, which was destroyed on the 19th of Sept. 1884. The loss was promptly adjusted and paid to our entire satisfaction. A.C. MILLARD E.A. MILLARD Salina, Kansas, Sept. 16, 1884 A.C. Millard, one mile north of Bavaria, had his barn with all its contents burned to the ground about two weeks ago. It fortunately was insured with Braniff & Cravens for $390. He received all this insurance five days after the fire. - Saline Co. Journal. R.H. Teague & Bro. had seven head of yearling steers killed by lightning. They fortunately had them insured against loss by lightning, with Braniff & Cravens, and two days after their loss received $210, the full value of them. - Saline Co. Journal

I have this day received from the German Insurance Co., of Freeport, Ill., through Braniff & cravens, their agents at Salina, Kansas, the sum of thirty-six and 59-100 dollars, in full payment of a tornado loss which occurred to my dwelling house on the first day of August, 1881. The loss was adjusted promptly and to my entire satisfaction. I cheerfully recommend the German to persons desiring indemnity against loss or damage by either fire, lightning or tornado, as being honest, prompt and safe. GOTTLIEB STOLPER Salina, Kansas, Aug. 19, 1881 I, R.P. Walker, have received this day, through Braniff & Cravens, agents for the German Insurance co. of Freeport, Ill., at Salina, Kansas, the sum of $895.52, payment in full, to my entire satisfaction, for loss by fire sustained by me on my dwelling house and contents, Feb. 4, 1881. The said German Insurance Company through its agents, Braniff & Cravens, has all through the settlement of said loss, treated me with great courtesy and has paid me every cent honestly due me, and I shall always remember them as honorable and upright men. R.P. WALKER My property, including live stock, was insured at the agency of Braniff and Cravens, Salina, Kansas. During the first part of the month of May, I had a two-year old steer killed by lightning. Within ten days from that time they paid me $27.75, the full value of said steer. I have implicit confidence in the promptness, honesty and integrity of Messrs. Braniff & Cravens. (Signed) J.M. PAUL Brookville, Kan., May 30, 1882 This is to certify that I, George Hawley, on the 1st day of April, 1880, had my stone house, one mile north-west of Bavaria, insured in the amount of one thousand dollars in the German Insurance Company of Freeport, Ill., said insurance having been placed at the agency of Braniff & Cravens, of Salina, Kansas; that on the 14th day of May 1880, said house was destroyed by a tornado; that on the 4th day of June 1880, the said German Insurance company paid me in full and to my entire satisfaction, the sum of one hundred dollars. I would therefore recommend said company to those desiring insurance as honest, prompt and safe. GEO. HAWLEY This is to certify that I, Aaron Gosso, have this day received from the German Insurance Company of Freeport, Ill., through Braniff & cravens, agents for the said company at Salina, Kansas, the sum of two hundred and ninety-two dollars and fifty cents, (202.50), being in full payment and settlement and to my entire satisfaction, of a loss by fire on my dwelling house property, which occurred August 10, 1881. For prompt and liberal adjustment and payment of losses, and for courtesy and fair dealing with its policy holders, the German takes the lead; and I can safely recommend it to those desiring sound insurance by either fire, lightning or tornado. AARON GOSSO Received of the Watertown Insurance company, through Braniff & Cravens, agents, $600, in full payment and to my entire satisfaction, for loss by fire sustained by me on saloon building on Santa Fe Avenue. The loss occurred on the 22nd, and I received a draft for the money - three days after the fire. MRS. A. DOYLE Salina, Kansas, Jan 25, 1882 I have this day received of the German Insurance Co. of Freeport, Ill., through Braniff & Cravens, agents for the company at Salina, Kansas, the sum of $422.16, in full payment of loss by fire to my dwelling house, and household furniture contained therein. ELISHA DARBE Salina, Sept. 8, 1881 Received of the German Insurance company, through its agents, Braniff & Cravens, the sum of $60.00, in full payment and to my entire satisfaction, for loss by lightning of one horse, on the 9th day of June, 1881. My property is all insured in the German Insurance company, and I can safely recommend it as honest, prompt and safe. J. J. EISENHAUER Received of the German Insurance company, through Braniff & Carvens, agents at Salina, Kansas, $290.24, in full payment and settlement of loss by fire to my frame building on Sante Fe avenue, Salina. The loss was settled promptly and to my entire satisfactions. PATRICK O'DONNELL TO THE PUBLIC Our property was insured in the agency of Braniff & Cravens, in the German Insurance company of Freeport Ill. On the 16th of March 1883, a fire destroyed our dwelling house and some of the household furniture; and on April 4th, 1883, Messrs. Braniff & Cravens paid us $526.14, the total amount of loss we sustained, and we take pleasure in recommending them to the public as honorable and liberal insurance men. KOLL BROTHERS GENERAL INS. AGENCY OF Braniff & Cravens, Salina, Kan. Life, Fire, Accident, Tornado, Cyclone, Windstorm, Plate Glass INSURANCE Written in the best Companies Our list of Companies comprises the following: German Fire.......................New York Queen..................................Liverpool American Central ................St. Louis, Mo. Westchester........................New York German...............................Freeport, Ills. Pennsylvania Fire.................Philadelphia German Fire........................Peoria, Ills. Milwaukee Mechanics...........Mil. Northwestern National...........Mil. Home Mutual.......................California Orient...................................Hartford American.............................Newark Lloyd's Plate Glass Co......N. Y. IN THE Adjustment and Payment of Honest Losses, We are ahead of Everybody Remember the place - Office in Post Office Block, Salina, Kansas BRANIFF & CRAVENS Salina Exchange Nursery 45,000 apple trees, one half to two years old and one half to one year old, best trees from 4 to 6 feet high, and in all respects first-class trees. It may not be generally known that there is any nursery here in Salina, and I take this opportunity to say that such is the fact, and you can come and find it. Now if you are going to want any trees this spring or any time in the future, it will pay you to come and see me and my trees (my trees are not home grown trees grown in Topeka, and which you cannot find until they are shipped here), but you can come and find them to-day in the nursery and as fine trees as you would wish. Why will it pay to get your trees of me? - because you can get them for $12.50 per 100, that is with the agent's commission knocked off. Apple 12 1/2 cts, Peach 20 cts, Grape 5 cts, Crap 20 cts, Pear 80 cts, Plum 60c, Cherry 60 cts. Call and see my stock. Save this notice for future use, as it will not appear again. B. F. Taylor, Proprietor

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© 2007: Transcribed by L. Smalley.