Golfers Morris Holden (second from Left) and Sidney Holden (4th from Left) circa 1960s
Building with Guaranty - Historical Title Insurance Advertising
1940 Title Guaranty Baseball Team, Morris Holden 3rd RT in FR

The Holden Family: 100 Years in Title

Explore the history of American land titles, led by 3rd generation title man, Michael A. Holden

The title insurance industry traces its roots back to 1876, and the Holden Family has been active in the industry for 100 of its 144 years of existence. From 1920 to 2020 encompassing three generations, the Holden Family has worked in every aspect of the business, including holding leadership positions and owning companies. It all began in 1920 with 19-year-old Mo Holden who answered an advertisement for an apprenticeship position.

Publications

Cover of 'The Ramblings of a Title Man' by Michael A. Holden

Michael A. Holden has published stories from his family's 100 years in the title industry in his book, The Ramblings of a Title Man, which can be purchased online through Lulu.com.

Join the E-mail List

A Century of Service to the Land Title Industry...

1920

Morris S. Holden Begins Career at Title Corporation of St. Louis

1946

Sidney K. Holden starts career in title at Guaranty Land Title Company

1954

Guaranty Land Title Co. wins national contract for Interstate highway system

Golfers, Morris Holden (second from Left) and Sidney Holden (4th from Left) circa 1960s

1973

The Original Guaranty Land Title Co. sold to Commonwealth Land Title

1973

Sidney K. Holden becomes VP for Tampa FL area for American Title Company

Sidney K. "Buz" Holden (1925-2019), Circa 1967

1978

Sidney K. Holden becomes President of Boone County Abstract & Title, Columbia MO

1988

Sandra Holden and two partners open the 2nd Guaranty Land Title in Columbia MO

Opening Day, Guaranty Land Title Insurance Co of Columbia, Nov 12, 1988
Sandra S. Massey Holden, 1938-2004
Sandra S. Massey Holden, 1938-2004

1997-2008

2nd Guaranty Land Title grows to over $6M in revenue and operates from 17 offices with 120 employees

2000

Susan Holden (Williams) continues career at 2nd Guaranty Land Title in Columbia, MO

2008

2nd Guaranty Land Title closes during the “Great Recession”

2008

Michael Holden becomes Vice President of Dakota Homestead Title Insurance Co. in Sioux Falls, SD

Michael A. Holden

2012

Susan Holden Williams begins working at Title Partners, Frontenac, MO

Morris S. Holden

1937

The original Guaranty Land Title Company founded in Clayton Missouri by Morris S. Holden and 2 partners

1940 Title Guaranty Baseball Team, Morris Holden, front row, 3rd from right

1962

Sandra S. Massey (Holden) begins working at Phoenix Title & Trust, Phoenix AZ

1965

Morris S. Holden retires from the land title business

1969

Susan Holden (Williams) begins career at Guaranty Land Title Company

Susan Holden Williams, 1950-2017

1974

Carole Holden (Whipple) becomes escrow manager for American Title Company, Clearwater, FL

Carole A. Holden Whipple, 1931-2004

1980

Carole Holden (Whipple) becomes Vice President for Chelsea Title, Clearwater, FL

1989

Michael Holden begins career at the 2nd Guaranty Land Title in Columbia, MO

1990-1997

2nd Guaranty Land Title grows to 7 offices across Missouri

From 2nd left, Buz, Sandra, and Michael Holden, Michael Dalton, 1993 Ribbon cutting for Jefferson City, MO

1997

Michael Holden becomes President of 2nd Guaranty Land Title

Sidney Holden, Scott Peterson and Michael Holden, Groundbreaking of Fulton MO office Circa 1995

2008

2nd Guaranty Land Title closes during the “Great Recession”

2010

Michael Holden becomes National Agency Manager for EnTitle Insurance Company, Cleveland, OH

2011

Michael Holden becomes Vice President of North American Title Insurance Company

2012

Susan Holden Williams begins working at Title Partners, Frontenac, MO

2020

Holden Family celebrates 100 years in the land title business 2020

Tour the Past 100 Years

View historical land title insurance brochures, real estate and title industry publications, documents and letters.

Photos from the Holdens' 100 years in the land title industry.

Dive into the History

The story behind this timeline; how the Holden family legacy in title began back in 1920.

Articles and short stories penned by author Michael A. Holden.