THE TRAVELERS’ LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY 

The Travelers’ Life and Accident Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn., has been in business on the Pacific coast since 1870, and has paid out during that period over $1,000,000 for losses. They have done an installment work on all the railroads of the coast, as well as of the continent, and have at the present time 800 agencies on the coast. The company complies regularly with all the laws of the different States, and the history of the company is one of the highest successes. 

Walter W. Haskell has been the general agent of the company for the Pacific coast since 1885, and previous to that time was city agent three years, and was formerly a member of the insurance firm of Brown, Craig & Co., but disposed of his interests in that firm to connect himself with his present company. He is a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts, born in January, 1846, and is a descendant of one of the oldest original settlers of New England. His father, Henry Haskell, was born in Massachusetts, in 1800, and was married to Sarah E. Phelps, a descendant of the Rev. Forbes Phelps, of colonial fame. They were the parents of ten children, only two having died, and eight surviving. Mr. Haskell, the youngest child, returned to his home in the East in 1875, and attended the golden wedding of his parents. His father lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years. He had been a trustee of his city, and had also represented his district in the State Legislature several terms. Walter W. Haskell arrived in San Francisco November 26, 1868, and was engaged a year in the music establishment of Kohler, Chase & Co., and later removed to Carson City, and accepted a position with John G. Fox, in the same line of business. In 1872 he was married to Miss Clara F. Osborn, a native of Brooklyn, New York, but a resident of San Francisco at the time of their marriage. They then removed to Alameda, where they have since constantly resided. 

For a time Mr. Haskell was in the employ of Bowen Bros., dealers in general merchandise, but after two years he entered the Home Mutual Fire Insurance Company’s office at Oakland, in 1874. He afterward resigned his position with them to enter the firm of Brown, Craig & Co. In his political views, Mr. Haskell is a strong Republican, and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He gives close attention to his business, and his industry and honorable methods have brought their reward and consequent success, and he also enjoys the good will of a very large circle of friends. 

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker 

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, page 514, Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.