The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-14
ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE FARGO FIRMS
ITHE NORTHERN ABSTRACT CO.

This firm is engaged in the COMPILE
ing of abstracts to the title of all lands
in Cass county, including city lots in
the various towns and cities of said
county. 1t was established in August.
1903, and acquired the plant, good will
and business, furniture and fixtures
of the Cass County Abstract & u
antee Co, Dec. 1. 1904. They began
their business in the Magill black,
but later moved to the Savings & Loan
building, No. IL Broadway.
The business has grown from a few
hundred dollars at its beginning until
it has run into the thousands annually,
and with the continued growth OF the
county and the various cities, the pre-
vious good showing Is likely to be
entirely eclipsed.
From the beginning of the county to
Dec. 1, 1904. they have two full abb
stracts of every instrument which Is
of record pertaining to real estate, Civ
ing unusual facilities for checking and
assuring the public OF accuracy and
promptness; subsequent to Dec. /,
1904, they have one Of the most COM
plete plants to be found anywhere In
the northwest, and use the card index
system so that any number Of instru-
ments may be arranged together,
forming the chain OF title to the de-
sired tract.
All abstracts are written in duplicate,
and carbon copies preserved in the
ONCE, and filed for reference; their in
dex has been checked and re-checked,
so that the possibility Of emitting any
thing essential to the title is reduced
to the minimum.
Importance of the Corporation.
Formerly "B" bought from "a" and
relied on the fact that A was an
honest man and had been in possession
of the land for five, ten or more years,
and would make everything pertain
ing to the title, satisfactory, II any
thing unexpected should arise. Since
the advent of abstracts, this is chang
ed, and every careful purchaser in
sists on one of their abstracts, show
ing the chain Of title from the gov
rnmen dow to date of closing deal.
There is no deal OF any value
contaminated, at the present time,
without an abstract.
This firm compiled the abstract
showing the title of the Great North
ern Railway Co.'s right of way across
Cass county. for the F~argo-Surrey
line. involving the ab~stracting of more
than 100 different titles across Cass
~county's most valuable farm land.
The land on which the Loyal Knights
temple stands: the Masonic temple;
The Forum building; the telephone
building; Fargo Plumbing & Heating
I Co.'S building; public library, opera
house: Pioneer Life building; Card
ner hotel; Y. M. C. A.; N. d. Improve
ment Co. building; Grand theatre;
Walker block; Stone new block; Kauf-
man building; Bristol & Sweet build
ing: Orpheum building; N. d. Har-
ness Co. building; H~all-Robertsor
hardware building; Park, Grant &
Morris building; Everhart Candy Co.'s
building; Dakota Business colleg'
building; watkins block; Knerr block.
FLOYD block; Waldorf hotel; FargC
Mercantile Co.'S building, and thou
sands Of others.
Heads Of the Firm.
The president, A. r. Watkins, wa
for, FIVE years with the First Nationa
bank, advancing from city collector t
note teller and practically assistan
cashier, in which position he becam
well acquainted with the real estat
men and financial rating of the mel
of the city. After the consolidation o
the First National bank with the Re-
River bank in 1905 he resigned to be
come president of the Northern Alb
stract Co, acquiring a liberal amour
of the stock; later he acquired a con
trolling interest; the directors havini
seen fit to retain him as presiden
since his first selection for that place
testifying to his efficiency. The othe
officers are r. Leland Watkins, presi
dent of the Dakota Business college
who is secretary of the Northern Alb
stract Co.; Geo. II. HOLSTER, who J
president of the Northern Trust co
who is treasurer of the Northern Alb
stract Co. They are all men OF prom
inence in their particular line, and !
the city and county, giving the yer
best financial backing to every al
stract issued by the company.