Jones County, Texas - History - Pandhandle Abstract Company *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************** The Western Enterprise Anson, Jones County, Texas Thursday, August 26, 1933 50th Anniversary Edition OLDEST FIRM IN COUNTY WITH NO NAME CHANGE By Otto Sosebee The Panhandle Abstract Company was organized in 1886 by A.H. Kirby, and has operated under the same name continuously since date of organization, and in this respect is the oldest business firm in Jones County. Mr. Kirby came to Anson in 1884. Previous to his coming to Anson he taught school at Whitney, Texas, in Hill County. In the year 1887, his brother, E.N. Kirby, who now resides at Abilene, became associated with him. Also at the same time John F. Ferguson, who was then county clerk of Jones county, was associated with them. A.H. Kirby sold his interest in the plant in 1890 to Judge L.M. Buie and J.M. Hanna and confined his activitives to the practice of law, becoming one of the leading title attorneys of West Texas. However, E.N. Kirby continued to work with them until 1893. Judge Buie and Judge Hanna operated the plant to about the year 1900, being assisted by T.S. Wallace and R.A. P'Pool, then selling the plant to T.S. Wallace who operated it for two or three years and sold same to George C. Bishop. Mr. Bishop, assisted by his sister, Miss Blanche Bishop, and a young man from New Orleans operated the plant to 1907, selling ot to R.H. Stovall, and T.N. Unsel, O.W. Yates, who had worked some for Mr. Bishop during his ownership of the plant, established the Yates Abstract Company in 1908 and operated as competitor of the Panhandle Abstract Company, assisted by M.P. Meyers. In 1911 T.N. Unsell sold his interest in the Panhandle Abstract Copmany to Freeman Duggan of Stamford and he and Mr. Stovall continued to operate the plant to 1913, at which time R.H. Stovall and O.W. Yates bought the interest of Mr. Unsell and the Yates Abstract Company and the Panhandle Abstract Company merged, the latter absorbing the Yates Company. The capital stock of the company was increased at that time and the company came into corporate existence and has been incorporated since that time. Mr. Yates remained in charge of the company until 1919 when he sold his interest to W.L. Floyd. Mr. Stovall sold his interest to J.E. Goodrich and Mr. Yates in 1916. Mr. Goodrich was associated with the company until his death in 1917. Mr. Floyd operated the company until he sold his interest in same to J.C. HIlbun in July 1920, who sold his interest in the plant to Claud H. Allen in 1921 who operated the plant until 1923 at which time he sold the plant to Mr. P.G. Stanford of Canton, Texas. Mr. Allen continued to operate the plant after selling it to Mr. Stanford until NOvember 1923, at which time Mr. Stanford sold the plant to Otto Sosebee and John C. Thompson. Thompson. J.M. Sosebee purchased John C. Thompson's interest in 1924 and he and Otto Sosebee have operated the plant since that date. The name "Panhandle Abstract Company" was chosen by its founder A.H. Kirby because at that time he expected to establish a chain of asbract plants covering the entire Panhandle of Texas, with the main office at Anson. However, the plant never compiled abstracts in any county other than Jones County except Stonewall County. Pen written copies of abstracts covering Stonewall County property are in the files of the company now. All the first abstracts were pen written and double-checked before putting them out. A copy of each abstract was kept (coopies of which dating back to 1886 are still in this office) and filed for future reference as well as protection. The information given in this article was obtained from the people who worked in the plant at the various periods of time. Judge E.N. Kirby who started to work in the plant in 1887 still resides in Abilene, Texas, where he is practicing law. C.W. Yates who was familiar with the plant from 1905 to 1919 is still in the title business and is vice-president of the Pioneer Title Insurance and Trust Company, Las Vegas, Nevada. R.H. Stovall who was a partner with Mr. Yates resides at Snyder, Texas, and is in the real estate and loan business. George C. Bisop is still in the abstract business and operates a plant at Denton, Texas. Others connected with the plant since 1919 still are in our midst.