Stewart Title Company

The first abstract companies in Bexar County were established in San Antonio during the mid-1870's by Dr. Theodore Roziene and by a group of five prominent citizens who formed the Occidental Land Company, which changed its name to the West Texas Abstract and Guarantee Company in 1890. In that same year, Henry Hildebrand and Ben Stribling formed Hildebrand & Stribling Abstract Company, and five years later, formed Bexar Abstract Company in 1895. They allowed the charter of Hildebrand & Stribling to expire in 1901, thereby merging the two firms. Bexar Abstract Company acquired the abstract books of the West Texas Company in 1909. They had also previously acquired the records of Theodore Roziene upon his death in 1901. Stewart Title Company began in the 1890's in Galveston, Texas when Maco Stewart, a well-known lawyer, acquired an existing abstract plant there. The Stewarts incorporated under the name Stewart Title Guaranty Company in 1908. In 1911, the Stewarts began the San Antonio office by leasing and later purchasing Bexar Abstract Company's records.

The roots of Stewart Title Company run back to the decade after the civil war. By the 1870s, land transactions were increasing rapidly due to the large population growth of the city of San Antonio and Bexar County. These transactions required an assurance on the part of the purchaser that the seller had the right to convey. It was becoming clear that the necessity of abstracting land titles reached an increasing level of prominence in land conveyances.

The first abstract companies in Bexar County were established in San Antonio during the mid-1870s by Dr. Theodore Roziene and by a group of five prominent citizens who formed the Occidental Land Company, which changed its name to the West Texas Abstract and Guarantee Company in 1890. In that same year, Henry Hildebrand and Ben Stribling formed Hildebrand & Stribling Abstract Company and five years later formed Bexar Abstract Company in 1895. They allowed the charter of Hildebrand & Stribling to expire in 1901 thereby merging the two firms.

West Texas Abstract and Guarantee Company changed their place of business to Houston in 1909. Bexar Abstract Company was then able to consolidate their operation by acquiring the abstract books of the West Texas Company when it moved. They had also previously acquired the records of Theodore Roziene upon his death in 1901.

Stewart Title Company began in the 1890s in Galveston, Texas when Maco Stewart, a well known lawyer, acquired an existing abstract plant there. Together with other family members Stewart expanded his operation to Beaumont after the discovery of oil at Spindle Top created a demand for abstracting land titles. The Stewarts incorporated under the name Stewart Title Guaranty Company in 1908 and two years later opened an office in Dallas. In 1911, the Stewarts established the San Antonio office by leasing and later purchasing Bexar Abstract Company's records. Thus by acquiring Bexar Abstract Company, Stewart Title Company had also obtained the records of the former companies of Roziene, Occidental Land Company, West Texas Abstract and Guarantee Company, and Hildebrand & Stribling. Stewart Title Company went on to expand outside of Texas beginning in 1956; since then, it has grown to over 2800 offices nationwide.

Source: Historical Background of the Stewart Title Collection, Carol Miller.