In the late 1800’s Mr. E.M. Elliott and Mr. A.B. Waldron began their operation in East Texas. They were a family owned business and would come to own over 150 locations throughout Texas and New Mexico.  Their primary business was preparing mineral abstracts for the oil and gas industry, however they would occasionally prepare surface abstracts for an attorney to review for the sale and/or mortgaging real property.  The oil bust in the 1940’s forced the owners to sell most of their title plants.

Ivan Alexander, Jr. graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1959 and was licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas in May 1959. He began his legal career with the law firm of Luna, McCarthy and Berzett in Dallas, Texas in June of 1960.  Ivan started his private practice in Emory, TX in November of 1962.  His interest in real estate led him to lease Elliott & Waldron Abstract & Title Company in Canton for a year prior to purchasing the business in 1963.