Walker County Title Company

History of Walker County Title Company

The Walker County Title Company was established in 1898 by A.T. Randolph, who operated the company for 35+ years. He had been Walker County Clerk prior to his establishment of this company.

In the 1930s, E.R. Berry purchased Walker County Title Company. He had originally come to Huntsville in 1918 to coach football at the local university, then known as Sam Houston State Teachers college. Following his coaching career, he opened an office on the north side of the courthouse square to practice law.

In 1936, after a devastating fire that gutted the building housing Berry’s law office, he joined with another local attorney, Robert Smither, to form the law partnership of Berry & Smither. The two partners also shared ownership of Walker County Title Company.

Robert Smither continued his partnership with Berry in both entities, even while he was absent from Huntsville as he served in the United State Marines during World War II. Upon his return to Huntsville following the war, both men continued their partnership in both the law office and the title company until Berry’s death in 1968.

On January 1, 1970, Robert Smither sold one-half interest in the title company to Lloyd C. Martin, who was his law partner. At that juncture, the building at 1109 University Avenue was occupied by the title company, where it remains to this day.

In 1972, the title company had an abstract plant built for San Jacinto County. Walker County title then went into business in San Jacinto County and has served both Walker and San Jacinto counties since that time.