Insurance companies and agents used millions of 1898 documentary revenue stamps, in particular, the 1/2 cent, 4, 40 and 80 cent stamps, though their cancels may be found on every value in the documentary series. This page, and its sister page Insurance Companies, include a list of cancels posted on this website. You are invited to browse the links below and view the scans of canceled stamps.
The US 1898 War Revenue Law taxed insurace policies as follows:
Life Insurance:
Policy of insurance...upon life or lives, for each one hundred dollars or fractional part thereof, eight cents on the amount insured: Provided, That on all policies, for life insurance only, issued on the industrial or weekly payment plan of insurance, the tax shall be forty per centum of the amount of the first weekly premium. Fraternal and cooperative societies providing insurance-type programs were exempt from these taxes.
Marine, Inland & Fire Insurance:
Each policy ... upon property of any description ... whether against peril by sea or inland waters, or by fire or lightning, upon the amount of premium charged [shall be taxed] one-half of one percent on each dollar or fractional part thereof.
Casualty, Fidelity & Guarantee Insurance:
Each policy of insurance ... of the nature of indemnity for loss, damage or bond or obligation...transacting the business of accident, fidelity, employer's liability, plate glass, steam boiler, burglary, elevator, automatic sprinkler ... and each bond undertaking or recognizance, conditioned for the performance of any office...or guaranteeing titles to real estate or mercantile credits...[taxed] one half of one cent on each dollar or fractional part thereof.
The following list of links includes insurance agents, both those dedicated to specific insurance companies and mostly, those operating independently and selling the policies of multiple insurance companies. This list includes but a small fraction of the insurance agents operating during the 1898 tax period. There were likely thousands of agents selling policies, so collecting and identifying these cancels can provide a philatelist with a lifetime project. As such, this list of links is a work in progress, and will be added to as new material is posted and as your editor thinks to append this list.
Alexander & Trammell, Martinsburg, West Virginia
Alexander & Trammell,
MAR
2
1901
Martinsburg, W. Va.
from The Martinsburg Herald, December 7, 1901
Anderson & Dorr, Pensacola, Florida
from Maloney's Pensacola City Directory, 1900
ANDERSON & DORR
JUN
23
1900
PENSACOLA.
Frank Appleby, Asbury Park, NJ
Theodore Frank Appleby
FRANK APPLEBY
APR
1
1899
ASBURY PARK, N. J.
Appleby was engaged in the insurance business during the 1898 tax period, but he would also begin a successful political career during that time, including as Mayor of Asbury Park from 1899 to 1906. It is possible, even likely, that the stamp above was used on a check that had nothing to do with his insurance interests. Prior to becoming mayor Appleby would serve on the state board of education and would continue on the board until 1902. Appleby was elected to the 67th Congress in the House of Representatives. He would lose his next election for the 68th Congress, regaining his seat in the following election. Before he could be seated in 1924 he would pass away in Baltimore, MD. During his term in congress Appleby would introduce a bill designed to limit oil pollution. The bill would eventually become the 1924 Oil Pollution Act.
Austin & Woolverton, Albany, NY
Austin & Woolverton
Albany, N. Y.
6/17/99
from The City of Albany, July 1888
Avery & Pendleton, Brooklyn, NY
Avery & Pendleton were agents for Niagara Fire Insurance.
Avery & Pendleton,
Jun
15
1899
B'KLYN, N.Y.
A. Bailey, Gardiner, Maine
A. BAILEY
SEP
1
1899
GARDINER, MAINE
from The Insurance Yearbook of 1893, listing the officers of the Southern Kennebec County Board of Fire Underwriters. Mr. Bailey was the vice-president.
Baldwin & Frick, Baltimore, MD
from R. L. Polk's Baltimore City Directory, 1913
BALDWIN & FRICK
MAY 24
1899
BALTIMORE
Barbee & Castleman, Louisville, Kentucky
from The Insurance Yearbook 1895
BARBEE & CASTLEMAN
JAN
6
1900
R. O. Barksdale, Washington, Georgia
The R. O. Barksdale home in Washington, GA
R. O. BARKSDALE
AGENT,
Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co.
WASHINGTON.....GA.
A. E. Barrows Co., Connersville, Indiana
Advert, The National Jewish Post, December 23, 1949
A. E. BARROWS,
APR
5
1901
CONNERSVILLE, IND.
Bates & Hogsett, Kansas City, MO
Bates & Hogsett
JAN
7
1899
from Rough Notes, October 12, 1916
Beach & Sweet, Providence, Rhode Island
from the 23rd Annual Report of The New England Association of Fire Chiefs, 1945
BEACH & SWEET
AUG
9
1900
PROV. R. I.
D. B. Bell, Pittsburgh
D. B. BELL.
AUG 9 1898
Pittsburg, Pa.
D. B. BELL.
SEP 28 1899
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Bennett, Hutchinson & Company, Evansville, Indiana
Henry S. Bennett and Alex Hutchinson were partners.
Bennett,
Hutchinson & Co.,
SEP 1 1898
Insurance.
Bennett,
Hutchinson & Co.,
SEP 1 1898
Insurance.
Bennett,
Hutchinson & Co.,
SEP 20 1898
Insurance.
Bennett,
Hutchinson & Co.,
SEP 25 1898
Insurance.
Bennett,
Hutchinson & Co.,
SEP 1 1898
Insurance.
J. J. Benson, Detroit
Advert The Insurance Herald Handbook of Michigan 1896,
Fidelity & Casualty Company,
J.J. Benson Resident Manager
J.J. BENSON, RESIDENT MANAGER
OCT
28
1898
DETROIT, MICH.
Benswanger & Hast, Pittsburgh
from the American Exchange & Review, November 1900
Note in the ad that Mssrs. Benswanger & Hast are specialists in whisky insurance. Curious this. The
Whisky Rebellion was fomented in western Pennsylvania by local distillers, many revolutionary war vets, who thought they were being taxed without representation. I can't imagine the desire for insurance for whisky was a holdover from more than 100 years before. I wonder why they sold, and people bought, whisky insurance?
BENSWANGER
NOV 3 1899
& HAST
BENSWANGER
NOV 3 1899
& HAST
Birckhead & Son, Baltimore
From Polk's Baltimore City Directory, 1901
BIRCKHEAD & SON,
AUG
9
1898
BALTO. MD.
BIRCKHEAD & SON,
BIRCKHEAD & SON,
SEP
29
1898
BALTO, MD.
J. H. Boatwright & Son Insurance, Wilmington, NC
J. H. Boatwright and Son
Wilmington, N. C.
NOV 30 1900
From the volume Wilmington, The Metropolis and Port of North Carolina: Its Advantages and Interests, 1912:
H. J. Bowell & Company, Merrill, Wisconsin
Advert from Wright's Merrill City Directory of 1925
H. J. BOWELL,
DEC
5
1898
MERRILL, WIS.
Briggs Carson, Tifton, Georgia
from The Gazette of Tifton, Georgia, June 2, 1899
BRIGGS CARSON
SEP 1 1898
TIFTON, GEORGIA
L. Burge, Hayes & Co., Boston
from the Portland Daily Press, May 6, 1898
The Spanish American War was in its early days at the time of this L. Burge Hayes classified ad. Seems like the firm was capitalizing on fear. Some must have believed that the Spanish might bombard American cities from their ships?
L. Burge Hayes & Co.
FEB 8 1899
Boston.
L. Burge Hayes & Co.
Feb 6 1899
Boston.
L. Burge Hayes & Co.
DEC 9 1900
Boston.
Butler & Haldan, San Francisco
from The Daily Alta California, September 6, 1882
Butler & Haldan
DEC 12 189?
Butler & Haldan
JAN 31 1899
Butler & Hewitt, San Francisco
BUTLER & HEWITT
JAN 7 1901
BUTLER & HEWITT
JAN 7 1901
Callender & Co., Peoria, IL
from the Bradley Polytechnic yearbook of 1935
CALLENDER & CO.
AUG
6
1900
PEORIA, ILL.
CALLENDER & CO.
JAN
23
1900
PEORIA, ILL.
Campbell & Kellner, Buffalo
from The Insurance Yearbook, 1895
Robert T. Chafin, Toledo, OH
Robt. T. Chafin.
NOV 1 1900
from The Western Underwriter of 1905. Mr. Chafin would organize the Zenobia Insurance Agency that year. During the 1898 tax period he was either independent or in a different partnership.
Silas Chapman, Hartford, CT
from The Hartford Bazar Budget, June 2, 1880
SILAS CHAPMAN, JR.
JAN
31
1899
HARTFORD, CONN.
Chase & Schanfeld, Minneapolis
from The American Jewish World of St. Paul & Minneapolis, December 29, 1922
CHASE & SCHANFELD
The erstwhile Metropolitan Life Building in Minneapolis.
Razed in 1961. Former location of the office of Chase & Schanfeld.
Library of Congress photo.
Chubb & Son, New York
CHUBB & SON
JUN
7
1900
N. Y.
Calling card from the early Chubb organization.
Chubb is now one of the largest insurance companies in the world.
Milton Clark Company, Rochester, NY
from The Rochester House Directory, 1907
MILTON CLARK CO.
1900
Frank A. Colley, Boston
from The Boston Post, April 12, 1894
Colley was an agent for Essex Mutual Insurance
FRANK A. COLLEY
S. O. Cotton & Brother, Houston, TX
S. O. COTTON & BRO.
OCT 12 1900
HOUSTON, TEX.
from The Insurance Yearbook 1901
It doesn't get much more southern sounding than a bunch of guys named Rufus Cage, Stonewall Bond, and J. M. Cotton.
"Ya'll seen Rufus 'n Stonewall?
"Yeah, they're over yonder at Cotton's place.
Please be aware that I grew up in south Louisiana, and spent chunks of my youth in north Louisiana, southern Mississippi and northern Alabama. I know these things.
Davant & Company, Savannah, GA
DAVANT & CO.
JUN
1
1901
Savannah's The Searchlight newspaper from January 5, 1907 with Richard J. Davant of Davant & Company listed as an endorsed candidate for city Alderman. The Searchlight was published by the Democratic League and was overtly political.
Dockery & Co., Waco, TX
from The Waco Times, February 8, 1900
DOCKERY & COMPANY,
SEP
7
1900
WACO, TEX.
from Directory of The City of Waco, 1902
Ducat & Lyon, Chicago
DUCAT & LYON,
SEP
5
1899
INSURANCE.
Ducat & Lyon were agents for the Home Insurance Company of New York. Tornado insurance would have had a larger customer base in Chicago than New York.
Poster
W. T. Durand, Milwaukee
from the American Agency Bulletin, September 1905.
Two Durands were selling insurance in Milwaukee in 1905, and in neighboring offices too. I'm looking for a Loyal Durand cancel.
W. T. DURAND
JUN
16
1899
MILWAUKEE. WIS
W. T. DURAND
DEC
2
1898
MILWAUKEE. WIS
Edwards & Kenney, Pittsburg
from the Pittsburgh Dispatch, September 20, 1889
EDWARDS &
KENNEY.
AUG 9 1899
EDWARDS &
H. D. Eichelberger & Company, Richmond, VA + Bisects
from the 1897 Virginia Federation of Labor Directory
H. D. Eichelberger partial cancel with 718 E. Main St. address
H. D. EICHELBERGER & CO.
5
NOV
1899
RICHMOND, VA
H. E. EICHELBERGER & CO.
JAN
28
1899
H. D. EICHELBERGER & CO.
JAN
29
1900
David Thompson sent this scan of an R163 with an Eichelberger CDS; there are no R163s in the Travelers album:
H. D. EICHELBERGER & CO.
MAR
4
1899
RICHMOND, VA.
An H. D. Eichelberger promotional poster associating their firm with a group of men who swore an oath to their country, were nearly all educated at West Point, and then betrayed their country and fellow officers. Of course an insurance firm in Richmond, Virginia would do this.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Travelers "mini-album" is the presence of eight examples of one cent bisects, with two R154s and six R163s neatly bisected and tied to insurance document fragments. Six of the eight examples are shown here:
HDE&Co
9/8/98
manuscript cancel tying stamps to document
H. D. Eichelberger & Co.
STATE AGENTS.
Handstamp cancels. This and all subsequent examples of the R163 bisects are tied to their documents, which are Travelers accident insurance contracts.
Ellison, Coolidge & Company, Boston
from The Ideal Watertown, February 23, 1898
Ellison, Coolidge & Co.
Dec
8
1898
Ellison, Coolidge & Co.
JAN
2
1899
Ferguson & Wallace, Saginaw, MI
Ferguson & Wallace,
MAR
29
1899
Saginaw, M.
Ferguson & Wallace,
APR
6
1899
Saginaw, M.
scans by David Thompson
Ferguson & Wallace were William Wallace and Frank A. Ferguson. Based in Saginaw, Michigan, their company sold insurance and surety bonds.
John E. Finnegan, San Francisco
This post includes Travelers Insurance Agent cancels from the Travelers Insurance 1898 mini-album. John E. Finnegan used simple initials to cancel these stamps:
J. E. F.
MAR 1 1899
OCT. ?? 1899
J. E. F.
Travelers Agents were occasionally responsible for making insurance payments for notorious accidents:
from The Travelers Record, April 1898
Eat your heart out, Elon Musk:
from The Travelers Record, August 1902
I think it likely that Eugene Levy's electric car was an electric street trolley, maybe what we might call a cable car today?
Firman & Webb, Rochester, NY
FIRMAN & WEBB.
JUL
.
1900
J. W. Fitzgerald & Co., Little Falls, NY
J. W. FITZGERALD & CO., AGENTS
LITTLE FALLS, N. Y.
JUNE 4 1901
F. E. Ford, St. Paul, MN
Mr. John K. West of Detroit, Minnesota, received injuries from a collision with a runaway horse. He filed a claim and received $60 from The Travelers. He thanked his agent, Mr. F. E. Ford:
F. E. Ford cancels:
F. E. FORD, State Agent.
MAR
14
1899
Walter Fowler, West Superior, WI
Tennis & Greeley,
OCT
??
1900
W. Superior, Wis.
WALTER FOWLER
JAN
13
1899
W. Superior
There is nothing in the world that is as interesting as squabbles between insurance agents and insurers. When the insurance agents Tennis and Greeley failed, a dustup developed over a $73.83 premium in West Superior, Wisconsin. Read the story below in The Western Underwriter.
Thanks to Dave Thompson for finding this article, and reminding me of an old post on this site on Tennis & Greeley.
from The Western Underwriter,
March 19, 1903
Frost, Luckey & Son, Poughkeepsie, NY
from the Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle, February 8, 1895
Frost, Luckey & Son,
JUN 9 1901
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Frederick K. Gaston, New York
from the Building Trades Employers Association Bulletin, January 1906
FREDERICK K. GASTON
JAN
6
1899
NEW YORK
B. Geer & Son, Saginaw, MI
from The Michigan Miner, December 1, 1898
B. Geer & Son,
FEB 1 1900
Saginaw
Gentle & Ludwig, Houlton, Maine
from The Aroostook Pioneer, 1895 Spring Illustrated Edition
Gentle & Ludwig.
FEB 15 1901
Houlton, Me.
Homer G. Gilmore, Springfield, Mass
Homer G. Gilmore
AUG
10
1898
Springfield, Mass.
Charles L. Gove, Albany, NY
CHAS. L. GOVE
-1899-
ALBANY, N. Y.
CHAS. L. GOVE
-1899-
ALBANY, N. Y.
CHAS. L. GOVE
-1900-
ALBANY, N. Y.
Albany Directory, 1889. In 1889 Charles Gove was in partnership with Stephen L. Foster.
S. C. Green, Henderson, Kentucky
S. C. GREEN
APR 29 1901
Henderson, Ky.
S. C. Green was a founding member of the Local Undewriters' Association of Kentucky in 1896. From Hayden's Annual Cyclopedia, 1899-1900.
R. H. Guibord, Plattsburgh, NY
R. H. GUIBORD,
APR
4
1899
Plattsburgh.
Mr. Guibord was a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and was frequently referenced in the University's alumni magazine.
Hall & Henshaw, New York
from The Monthly Journal of Insurance Economics, August, 1906
HALL & HENSHAW.
AUG
5
1898
NEW YORK.
May 28, 1899
July 14, 1898
Charles N. Hammon, Chicago
Charles N. Hammon was a Travelers Insurance agent based in Chicago, and frequently wrote accident policies for railroad employees and for travelers on those railroads, as Chicago was one of the world's great railroad hubs.
He was frequently acknowledged and thanked in the journal
The Travelers Record for his services by policy holders after Travelers adjusters paid the claims on the policies he sold them:
CNH
8/16/98
manuscript cancel
C N H
8/16/98
manuscript cancel
C. N. H.
NOV 1 1899
CHICAGO
C. N. H.
SEP 25 1899
CHICAGO
C. N. H.
JUL ? 1899
CHICAGO
Hays Brothers, Waco, Texas
HAYS BROS.
JAN
10
1900
WACO, TEXAS
A fire at a cotton gin at West Station led Mr. T. D. Hays of Hays Bros to make a trip to the gin to investigate and perhaps make an insurance adjustment. There was no need:
from The Waco Daily News, September 9, 1891
Heeman, Kranz & Co., Toledo, OH
from Official Laws Regulating Construction of Buildings, City of Toledo, 1907
Heeman, Kranz & Co.
Mar
2
1901
Toledo, O.
Heffernan & Burleigh, Plattsburgh, NY
from The Plattsburgh Sentinel, April 12, 1889
HEFFERNAN & BURLEIGH,
JUL
30
1899
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.
Charles E. Hochstetler, Kansas City
This post includes Travelers Insurance Agent cancels from the Travelers Insurance 1898 mini-album.
C. E. H. Agt.
NOV
4
1898
Travelers Ins. Co.
from The Travelers Record, May 1901
A Mr. Martin H. Thompson was thrown from his sleigh on Main Street in Kansas City and died. He carried a life insurance policy worth $5000. Remarkably, the thank you note indicates that he died on Feb 11, the death certificate was provided to The Travelers on Feb 14, and the payment was made on the 19th. No wonder The Travelers published this letter.
Holyoke & Russell, Marlboro, Mass
HOLYOKE & RUSSELL.
APR
28
1899
from The Standard Insurance Directory of New England from 1910
D. R. Hummer, Dover, N. J.
D. R. HUMMER,
SEP
30
1899
DOVER, N. J.
D. R. Hummer advertising blotter. His phone number was 25A.
G. Ph. Hunkel & Son, Milwaukee
from the American Agency Bulletin, September 1905
G. PH. HUNKEL & SON
DEC
12
1899
MILWAUKEE
James F. Hurt, Tazewell, VA
advert in The Tazewell Republican of June 16, 1898
In addition to Iced Tea, the Tazewell Republican of that day was dominated by headlines of the Spanish American War.
JAMES F. HURT,
APR
2
1901
INSURANCE.
Jerome Ingalls, Lynn, Mass
JEROME INGALLS & CO.
AUG
29
1899
LYNN, MASS.
from The Register of the Lynn Historical Society, 1915
Judd & Parsons, Holyoke, Mass
JUDD & PARSONS
JUL 15 1899
HOLYOKE, MASS.
J. S. Juno & Sons, Schenectady, NY
J. S. JUNO,
APR -3 1899
SCHENECTADY, N. Y.
from The American Agency Bulletin, September 1904
W. H. Kirke, Cleveland, Ohio
W. H. KIRKE
JUL 18 1899
CLEVELAND, O.
W. H. KIRKE
JUL 18 1899
CLEVELAND, O.
Thomas B. Knight & Co, Lynn, Mass
From The Parish Notes, St. Stephen's Memorial Church, February 1935
Thos. B. Knight,
JUL
7
1899
LYNN, MASS.
J. H. Leiding, Cincinnati, OH
from The Insurance Yearbook 1908
J. H. LEIDING
JAN
5
1901
Cincinnati, O.
Libby & Hussey, Portland, Maine
LIBBY & HUSSEY,
DEC
7
1900
Portland, Me.
Advert from The Portland Daily Press, June 18, 1902 for Libby & Hussey as agents of North British and Mercantile Insurance Company:
H. C. Little & Son, Lewiston, Maine
from The Bates Student, March 1910
H. C. LITTLE & SON.
FEB
2
1900
LEWISTON, ME
H. C. LITTLE & SON.
FEB
2
1900
LEWISTON, ME
Merrill, Dodge & Jackson Company, Toledo, Ohio
From The American Agency Bulletin, August 1910
Merrill, Dodge & Jackson.
1900
Meyst & Coates, Milwaukee
MEYST & COATES,
AGENTS
10/15/98
Fidelity & Casualty Co.
George E. Miller & Co., North Adams, Mass
GEO. F. MILLER,
INSURANCE
MAR 9 1901
BURLINGAME BLOCK,
ROOM 1.
NORTH ADAMS, MASS.
Advert in the North Adams directory:
Charles D. Mill, General Agent for New England Mutual Life
CHAS. D. MILL, Gen. Agt.
JAN
?
1901
N. E. M. L. I. Co.
CHAS. D. MILL, Gen. Agt.
JAN
1
1899
N. E. M. L. I. Co.
CHAS. D. MILLER, Gen. Agt.
DEC
31
1898
N. E. M. L. I. Co.
In 1996, NEMLI was merged into METLIFE and ceased to exist as a separate entity.
New Home Office Building in Copley Square in Boston. Former home of The New England Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Montgomery & Funkhouser, Chicago
The Insurance Yearbook, 1895
MONTGOMERY & FUNKHOUSER
JUN
17
1901
CHICAGO.
MONTGOMERY & FUNKHOUSER
SEP
10
1900
CHICAGO
METELLUS L. C. FUNKHOUSER
Negley & Flanegin, Pittsburgh
NEGLEY & FLANEGIN,
AUG
27
1900
P'GH, PA.
J. H. Nolan, General Agent Cancels
from The Travelers Record, May 1901
John T. Scott, a locomotive fireman (he kept the boiler's firebox stoked) died when his Chicago & Northwestern Railway locomotive fell into a turntable pit. His wife was paid $1000.
Nicholas G. Norcross, Lowell, Mass
from The Lowell Book, 1899
Nicholas G. Norcross
APR 17 1900
Lowell, Mass
Henry M. North, Augusta, GA
HENRY M. NORTH
AGENT
JAN 28 1901
AUGUSTA, GA.
Henry M. North advertisement from an Augusta, Georgia high school yearbook. Buy those whole life policies when you are young!
Unusual circular date stamp, especially from an insurance broker.
Robert O'Gorman & Company, Newark, NJ
from The Newark Evening Star, October 17, 1910
ROBERT O'GORMAN,
MAY
18
1900
NEWARK, N. J.
Noah H. Pangborn, Beaver Falls, PA
Private Noah H. Pangburn
(1840 - 1908)
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 155th Pennsylvania Infantry
This image of Pangburn can be found at the
Antietam on the Web site. I figure this photo was cropped from a larger photo of his unit. Pangburn's birth in 1840 made him a ripe age for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. He survived the war and would engage in the insurance business among other activities.
N. H. PANGBURN,
MAY
29
1899
BEAVER FALLS
Paton & Wheeler, Bradford, PA
From The Bradford Era, September 29, 1928
PATON & WHEELER, Insurance,
JAN
8
1900
Bradford, Pa.
PATON & WHEELER, Insurance
FEB
8
1900
Bradford, Pa.
Parker & Shipton, Pittsfield, Mass
PARKER & SHIPTON
JAN
9
1900
from The Standard Insurance Directory of New England, 1899
Perry & Herrick, Elmira, NY
from the Elmira New York Gazette, September 3, 1902
PERRY & HERRICK,
MAY
31
1900
Elmira, N.Y.
Phillips & Rebhan, Milwaukee
from the American Agency Bulletin, September 1905
PHILLIPS & REBHAN
MAY
1
1900
MILWAUKEE.
John M. Picton, Nashville, TN
picture from The Centennial Album of Nashville, Tennessee, 1896
JOHN M. PICTON,
JUL 29 1899
John B. Pirtle, Louisville, Kentucky
This post includes Travelers Insurance Agent cancels from the Travelers Insurance 1898 mini-album.
J. B. PIRTLE.
SEP 16 1899
Louisville, Ky.
from The Travelers Record, November 1900
from The Travelers Record, February 1899
S. H. Pool, Philadelphia
S. H. POOL, RES. MGR.,
JUL
29
1899
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
S. H. Pool appears to have been a dedicated agent for the Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York. From the Insurance News of January 1910.
Horace W. Power, Cleveland
H. W. POWER,
JUL
25
1898
CLEVELAND, O.
from The Travelers Record, April 1898
Charles Slough, an Engineer with the Big 4 Railway, broke his arm. His Travelers accident policy helped bail him out.
Raphael Brothers, Houston, TX
from the Houston Daily Post, March 25, 1894
RAPHAEL BROS.
1899
HOUSTON, TEX.
A. J. Reibling & Son, Rochester, NY
A. J. REIBLING & SON.
1898
from the Rochester City Directory of 1933
Risley & Cavileer, Atlantic City, NJ
Risley & Cavileer conducted an insurance and real estate business in Atlantic City. From the Philadelphia Blue Book 1899.
RISLEY & CAVILEER,
MAR
8
1899
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J.
G. Rosenblatt, Portland, Oregon
from The Sunday Oregonian, January 6, 1895
There may have been another G. Rosenblatt insurance agent somewhere in the US during the 1898 tax era but this is the only one that shows up with a reasonable search effort. The G. Rosenblatt on the cancels below is assumed to have been in the insurance business due to the the firms use of 1/2 cent stamps; the assumption is also supported by the use of the 4 and 5 cent stamps.
G. Rosenblatt
DEC 9 1899
G. Rosenblatt.
DEC 9 1899
G. Rosenblatt.
MAR 1 1899
G. Rosenblatt.
MAR 1 1899
Henry J. Ryan, New York
HENRY J. RYAN,
JAN -7 1899
GEN. AGENT.
from The Insurance Times, March, 1898
Lake W. Sanborn, Galesburg, IL
In 1882 Lake Sanborn organized the Mechanics Homestead and Loan Association in Galeburg, Illinios, and was elected secretary, a position he held until his death. Sanborn also represented various insurance companies as an agent. So he apparently ordered a circular date stamp that could function as his cancelling device no matter what hat he was wearing - lender or insurance agent. The cancel seemed peculiar to me at first inspection, but after reading his bio, "Agent or Sec'y" made perfect sense.
In 1905, Sanborn was elected Mayor of Galesburg.
LAKE W. SANBORN
MAR
22
1899
AGENT OR SEC'Y
Lake W. Sanborn
from Notable Men of Illinois & Their State, published in1912
George C. Sawyer, Syracuse, NY
George C. Sawyer initial cancels:
G.C.S.
SEP
20
1899
G.C.S.
NOV
4
1899
G.C.S.
AUG
30
1899
D. D. Sayer, Chickasha, Indian Territory
D. D. SAYER,
INSURANCE AGENT,
CHICKASHA, I. T.
D. D. Sayer was President and on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Commerce in Chickasha, where he used his office there to represent his insurance business.
Extra special thanks to Frank Sente for this strip of three.
Schermerhorn & Company, Schenectady, NY
The Schermerhorns either mispelled the name of their town in their cancels or their was an alternative spelling common at the time.
SCHERMERHORN & CO
FIRE UNDERWRITERS,
SCHNECTADY, N. Y.
James H. Searles, Rome, NY
JAMES H. SEARLES.
JUN
2
1900
Rome, N. Y.
from The City of Rome, New York, 1896
Sheafer & Lowrey, Pottsville, PA
Advert for Sheafer & Lowrey, agents for The Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Co.
SHEAFER & LOWREY,
MAY
13
1901
POTTSVILLE, PA.
Silsbee, Baker & Geer, Lynn, Mass
SILSBEE, BAKER & GEER,
OCT
24
1900
LYNN, MASS.
Sloper & May, Pittsfield, Mass
SLOPER & MAY,
JUL 31 1899
PITTSFIELD, MASS.
from The Insurance Directory of New England, 1910-11
Snow & Barker, Providence, RI
from The Insurance Yearbook for 1892
SNOW & BARKER,
AUG 11 1900
PROV. R. I.
Starkweather & Shepley, Providence, RI
from the Souvernir Book of The Providence Teacher's Bazaar, Infantry Hall, November 1901.
STARKWEATHER & SHEPLEY,
JAN 13 1900
PROVIDENCE, R. I.
Charles E. Stickney, Springfield, Mass
CHAS E STICKNEY
DEC 6 1900
Springfield, Mass.
from The History of the Department of Police Service, Springfield, 1900
George L. Story, Portland, OR
George L. Story
AUG 2 1898
Portland, - Oreg.
George L. Story
NOV 28 1898
Portland, - Oreg.
from the Salem Directory of 1871:
George L. Story was an energetic entrepreneur and by 1898 ran a fire insurance business.
Tennis & Greeley, West Superior, WI
Tennis & Greeley,
OCT
??
1900
W. Superior, Wis.
WALTER FOWLER
JAN
13
1899
W. Superior
There is nothing in the world that is as interesting as squabbles between insurance agents and insurers. When the insurance agents Tennis and Greeley failed, a dustup developed over a $73.83 premium in West Superior, Wisconsin. Read the story below in The Western Underwriter.
Thanks to Dave Thompson for finding this article, and reminding me of an old post on this site on Tennis & Greeley.
from The Western Underwriter,
March 19, 1903
J. W. Thompson & Sons, Detroit
J. W. Thompson & Sons
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
DETROIT, MICH
SEP 17 1898
In the album of Travelers cancels, J. W. Thompson & Sons are represented by two different types of handstamp cancels. The first is this straight line cancel referring to their offices located at The Detroit Chamber of Commerce. The second is a circular date stamp with no address.
CDS cancels:
J. W. T. & Sons, State Agents,
AUG
12
1899
DETROIT, MICH.
from The Travelers Record, June 1900
H. K. Summem was paid $666.66 by The Travelers due to the loss of his right foot.
Tippett & Baker, Dover, Delaware
TIPPETT & BAKER
APR
8
1899
DOVER, N.J.
TIPPETT & BAKER
APR
8
1899
DOVER, N.J.
Train & Harty, Savannah, GA
TRAIN & HARTY
OCT
4
1900
Savannah, Ga.
The 1903 obituary of Joseph E. Harty of the firm Train & Harty as reported in the national insurance journal The Chronicle in April, 1903.
R. A. Travis & Company, Tarentum, PA
R. R. TRAVIS & CO.
OCT
6
1898
TARENTUM, PA.
1940 Calendar cover
J. B. & J. M. Turnbull, Utica, NY
from The Hamilton Literary Magazine, June 1904
J. B. & J. M. TURNBULL
MAR
29
1900
Utica, N. Y.
Uncapher & McKinley, Marion, Ohio
State of Ohio Insurance License for 1901 for the Maryland Casualty Company and its agents, Uncapher & McKinley of Marion, Ohio. The license legally grants power of attorney to transact business in Ohio to Uncapher & McKinley; the POA was taxed 10 cents.
L. Van Cleef, Niagara Fallls, New York
L. Van Cleef
OCT 26 1898
Insurance
Nice block of four. But Mr. Van Cleef didn't leave behind much collateral material that I can find to complement his cancels.
E. A. Van Trump, Wilmington, Delaware
E. A. VAN TRUMP.
AUG
1
1900
WIL. DEL.
E. A. Van Trump was a general insurance agent in Wilmington for fire, marine, life & accident insurance. His office was located at the corner of 6th & Market Streets. The above stamp was likely used to pay the tax on insurance. Mr. Van Trump was also Secretary for the Wilmington Board of Trade.
The Delaware connection served the Van Trump family well, as Mr. Van Trump's son, E. A. Van Trump Jr., moved himself out west and became an agent for a rare and expensive car built by du Pont motors in Wilmington, Delaware.
Van Wyck & Quinn, Brooklyn, NY
VAN WYCK & QUINN
JUL
20
1898
MANAGERS.
Voss, Conrad & Company, San Francisco
VOSS, CONRAD & CO.
NOV
30
1900
SAN FRANCISCO
Voss, Conrad were agents for Thuringia and Frankfort Marine, Accident & Plate Glass. From The Jewish News of Northern California, September 18, 1903
Walke & Son, Norfolk, Virginia
Advert, Norfolk Landmark, July 11, 1889
Walke & Son,
NOV 4 1900
Norfolk, Va.
Ed. E. Walker & Co., Covington, KY
from the Covington, Kentucky High School Alumni bulletin 1905
ED. E. WALKER & CO.
DEC
19
1900
W. A. Warburton, Brooklyn, NY
W. A. WARBURTON,
1899
Brooklyn, N. Y.
W. A. WARBURTON,
1900
BROOKLYN, N. Y.
W. A. Warburn as a listed special agent for Aetna in 1896
John L. Way, St. Louis, MO
J. L. W.
SEP 30 1898
CANCELLED
The Travelers wrote accident insurance policies, and John L. Way's agency paid many of these types of claims which were documented by grateful policy holders in The Travelers Record, including burns from radiator steam, a crushed foot, and amputated fingers:
from The Travelers Record, April 1902
from The Travelers Record, June 1898
from The Travelers Record, February 1898
Charles H. Webster, Northfield, Mass
Charles H. Webster, Agt.
Northfield, Mass.
from The Standard Insurance Directory of New England, 1899
Mr. Webster represented several insurance companies, including Aetna and Home.
Weed & Parker Brothers, St. Paul, MN
from The American Exchange & Review, November 1900
WEED & PARKER BROS.
1899
T. K. Wilkins, Lima, OH
from Best's Insurance Reports, 1902
T. K. Wilkins and his buddies at the Amazon Insurance Company were up to dodgy stuff. According to the folks at Best's, Wilkens and his partners were running an unlicensed, "underground" insurance company. Best reports that Wilkens et al., "evidently fear [investigation] by outsiders. There is no reason for their refusal to furnish details [of the character of their assets]." Best's final conclusion: "The statement (shown above) is a ridiculous document. On the basis of the unearned premiums shown among the liabilities the company's net income cannot be more than $250 a month."
Wilkins is listed as the Secretary for Amazon Insurance. It is not clear that the Lima, Ohio canceled stamps below were used on Amazon documents, though Amazon Insurance was based in Lima despite having been incorporated in West Virginia. Maybe Wilkins' descendents can sue Jeff Bezos over the use of the Amazon name?
T. K. WILKINS,
JUN
3
1901
LIMA, OHIO.
S. F. Woodman, Boston
S.F.W.
JAN 30 1899
BOSTON
from The Travelers Record, May 1899
Woodworth-Hawley Co., Buffalo
from The Insurance Yearbook, 1925
Woodworth-Hawley Co.
DEC
1
189?
Buffalo, N. Y.
Worthington & Sill, Buffalo
from the Buffalo Industrial Show program, 1915
Worthington & Sill,
MAY
29
1900
Buffalo, N. Y.
Fred C. Wright, Springfield, Mass
FRED C. WRIGHT
11 APR 1900
Springfield, Mass.
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