First American Title Company
 KANSAS CITY
 (JACKSON - CLAY - PLATTE - CASS Counties)
The county of Jackson was organized in 1826 but it was 1840 before it's first major settlement in Independence began to grow from its beginning at a rendezvous point for westward-bound immigrants taking the historic Santa Fe Trail. Ten years later its neighbor, originally named the Town of Kansas, named for the Kansa Indians that inhabited the area at the time, was established on February 4. In 1853 the name was changed to Kansas City but this trade center did not actually receive its charter until 1880.

The potential for this area was recognized and the Kansas City Association for Public Improvement was formed in 1856. From this grew the current Chamber of Commerce. A business center from all though years ago the area that is now Jackson County can look back and see the beginning of such well known industries as Hallmark Cards which began with a 19 year old Joyce Hall selling postcards out of his rented room in the YMCA in 1910 and the candy business that began when Clara and Russell Stover first opened a store front operation called Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies Store in 1931.

Residents of the area can be proud of such cultural facilities as the renowned Nelson Gallery (whose full name is the William Nelson Gallery of Art and Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Art) which opened its doors and the merged facility in 1933. This same year saw the birth of the Kansas City Philharmonic. And of course the sports fans keep the stadiums full for the Chiefs and Royals in their respective seasons.

To many the many cultural, sports and industrial achievements of this area are overshadowed by the home and library of the only native Missourian to serve as the President of the United States.

Platte County grew from the Platte Purchase in which two million acres of prime real estate was purchased for $7,500 and some livestock. Although the date of this purchase is disputed it took place around 1830. On March 28th, 1837 President Van Buren proclaimed the region to be a part of Missouri.

Platte's neighbor, Clay County, house several historic sites in it's county seat of Liberty including the historic jail on N. Main Street dating from f1833 and the Jesse James Bank Museum, site of the nations first successful daylight bank robbery in peacetime committed by the infamous outlaw on February 13th, 1866.

First American Title Company
 ST. JOSEPH
The city of St. Joseph, Missouri grew from the trading post of Canadian trapper Joseph Robidoux who came from St. Louis in 1826. The town wasn't officially platted and named for 17 years.

Rich in its history as the western terminus of the first railroad to cross Missouri in 1859 and the beginning point of the infamous Pony Express, this northwest Missouri city played a major role in the development of its portion of this great state.

Between 1849 and 1852 more people began their search for riches from the western gold rush from St. Joseph than from any other river town. Business flourished as all of these prospectors bought their supplies here before setting off on their journey. Then, although short lived, the Pony Express, from April 1860 to October 1861, served as the main communication link between east and west. In this day of telephone and e-mail it may be hard to imagine the best we had to offer at the time was a horseback ride of more than 1950 miles through seven states that took 10 days.

Today, besides the tourist trade for the Pony Express National Museum, the Pate House Museum and the home of Jesse James, St. Joseph has a park system of more than 1500 acres. The city is home to the Wire Rope Corporation of America, the largest producer of wire rope used in ski lifts worldwide and the Chase Candy Company of St. Joseph, maker of the Cherry Mash, the first candy bar made west of the Mississippi.