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About Our Business
Company History
William Cash founded the forerunner of this present state of the art abstract and title
operation 1898.
William Cash and his new bride, Ora, came to Bay City in 1898 via Houston, Galveston and
Wharton to find a virtual sea of mud in this newly established town of then only several
hundred population.
Mr. Cash started his new abstract company and named it The Bay City South Texas Abstract
and Title Company. He had the first telephone in Bay City and brought in the first new
typewriters ever seen in these parts.
Mrs. Cash assisted in running the abstract plant, as Cash would later observe, "I do not believe
there is a County in Texas with better records."
William Cash was a firm believer in hard work and continued his abstract business until 1941.
In 1941, Bay City South Texas Abstract and Title Co. was acquired by Judge Arthur Harris, Sr.
The plant was operated out of his law offices on the second floor of the LeTulle Building
located on the northwest corner of 6th Street and Ave F.
In November of 1944, Mr. Harris employed Miss Clara Mae Miller to help in the plant. Clara
Mae married Hans Hiltpold and resided in Markham.
Nearly all property changing hands in those days had title examination based on abstract of
title and there were very few title policies issued in that time period.
Judge Harris died in 1953 and the ownership and operation of the title company was
maintained by his son, Arthur Harris, Jr. Later Mr. Harris bought the building at 2228 Ave G
and moved his law offices and abstract plant to that location.
Gradually over the years, title examination and the issuance of title insurance policies
became more common and replaced the old use of abstract of title.
Bay City South Texas acquired agent's license for the old, reliable Stewart Title and
Guaranty Company. This connection proved to be very satisfactory.
In late 1949 and early 1950, three major oil companies, Skelly Oil Company, Stanolind Oil
Co. and Tidewater Oil Co. began taking oil leases on the lots located in Bay City and the
immediate surrounding area. Judge Harris, being the local legal counsel for these
companies, was given the task of providing all the title information necessary in obtaining
proper leases. It was a monumental job for the title company and consumed a great deal of
the time and effort of the Judge and his employees.
Arthur Harris, Jr. was killed in a tragic automobile accident on
New Year's Eve 1972 and later that year his widow, Mrs. Lois
Harris, sold the abstract company to Mr. Vernon A. Leissner, a well
known local real estate man and rancher.
Mr. Leissner, being very optimistic and looking to the future, added to his staff. The
employees were Clara Mae Hiltpold, Dolores Barron, Carol Nauman, and Ann Blackman who
was aided part time by Betty Mott.
The business thrived under the capable management of Leissner, who added Alamo Title
Insurance of Texas as an underwriter. Clara Mae retired in 1987. Carol married Garvin Suggs
and retreated to raise a family. Added to the staff in 1982 were Minnie Ball, Ann Bartosh and
Teri Cartwright as Escrow Officer.
After 20 years of dedicated service to his community and to the title company, Vernon sold
the plant in May of 1992 to Robert J. Wilkinson, Jr. and retired to enjoy his beloved ranch.
Bobby and wife Peggy continue to update and improve the company with the best
equipment and software available in the industry. It continues to be the most advanced state
of the art abstract plant in the area. Bay City Abstract Escrow Officers are Ann Bartosh, Office
Manager, Teri Cartwright, Peggy Wilkinson, and Lacey Gilbert, and Terry Lee as Executive
Assistant. The company also employs several abstractors, examiners, and support personnel.
Company History
William Cash founded the forerunner of this present state of the art abstract and title
operation 1898.
William Cash and his new bride, Ora, came to Bay City in 1898 via Houston, Galveston and
Wharton to find a virtual sea of mud in this newly established town of then only several
hundred population.
Mr. Cash started his new abstract company and named it The Bay City South Texas Abstract
and Title Company. He had the first telephone in Bay City and brought in the first new
typewriters ever seen in these parts.
Mrs. Cash assisted in running the abstract plant, as Cash would later observe, "I do not believe
there is a County in Texas with better records."
William Cash was a firm believer in hard work and continued his abstract business until 1941.
In 1941, Bay City South Texas Abstract and Title Co. was acquired by Judge Arthur Harris, Sr.
The plant was operated out of his law offices on the second floor of the LeTulle Building
located on the northwest corner of 6th Street and Ave F.
In November of 1944, Mr. Harris employed Miss Clara Mae Miller to help in the plant. Clara
Mae married Hans Hiltpold and resided in Markham.
Nearly all property changing hands in those days had title examination based on abstract of
title and there were very few title policies issued in that time period.
Judge Harris died in 1953 and the ownership and operation of the title company was
maintained by his son, Arthur Harris, Jr. Later Mr. Harris bought the building at 2228 Ave G
and moved his law offices and abstract plant to that location.
Gradually over the years, title examination and the issuance of title insurance policies
became more common and replaced the old use of abstract of title.
Bay City South Texas acquired agent's license for the old, reliable Stewart Title and
Guaranty Company. This connection proved to be very satisfactory.
In late 1949 and early 1950, three major oil companies, Skelly Oil Company, Stanolind Oil
Co. and Tidewater Oil Co. began taking oil leases on the lots located in Bay City and the
immediate surrounding area. Judge Harris, being the local legal counsel for these
companies, was given the task of providing all the title information necessary in obtaining
proper leases. It was a monumental job for the title company and consumed a great deal of
the time and effort of the Judge and his employees.
Arthur Harris, Jr. was killed in a tragic automobile accident on
New Year's Eve 1972 and later that year his widow, Mrs. Lois
Harris, sold the abstract company to Mr. Vernon A. Leissner, a well
known local real estate man and rancher.
Mr. Leissner, being very optimistic and looking to the future, added to his staff. The
employees were Clara Mae Hiltpold, Dolores Barron, Carol Nauman, and Ann Blackman who
was aided part time by Betty Mott.
The business thrived under the capable management of Leissner, who added Alamo Title
Insurance of Texas as an underwriter. Clara Mae retired in 1987. Carol married Garvin Suggs
and retreated to raise a family. Added to the staff in 1982 were Minnie Ball, Ann Bartosh and
Teri Cartwright as Escrow Officer.
After 20 years of dedicated service to his community and to the title company, Vernon sold
the plant in May of 1992 to Robert J. Wilkinson, Jr. and retired to enjoy his beloved ranch.
Bobby and wife Peggy continue to update and improve the company with the best
equipment and software available in the industry. It continues to be the most advanced state
of the art abstract plant in the area. Bay City Abstract Escrow Officers are Ann Bartosh, Office
Manager, Teri Cartwright, Peggy Wilkinson, and Lacey Gilbert, and Terry Lee as Executive
Assistant. The company also employs several abstractors, examiners, and support personnel.
Copyright©2006
Bay City Abstract and Title Company
2021 Ave G, Bay City, TX 77414-5019 800-501-5752 Fax 979-241-3790
Bay City Abstract and Title Company
2021 Ave G, Bay City, TX 77414-5019 800-501-5752 Fax 979-241-3790
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