The story begins in April of 1836 when the pioneering Albert G. Knight arrived in the Racine area. On December 29 of that year, the area became known as Racine County. Albert soon became the County Clerk, the County Treasurer and in 1854 formed a company dealing with title abstracts (now known as Knight Barry Title, Inc.). Albert's company was responsible for storing the original plats of Racine in a brick vault in his office, next to the Courthouse. When the Courthouse burned down January 24, 1861, Knight's records were used to restore the courts records. In 1902, Albert's son, John W. Knight, and a friend, Erastus C. Peck, formed the company Knight & Peck Abstract Company, which soon became known as J.W. Knight Company. In 1915, Joseph J. Patrick bought a 1/2 interest in the Barry Abstract Company from John P. Barry, who was president of the company and also served as the Register of Deeds. Patrick became the company's secretary-treasurer. He soon became the County Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor and Under Sheriff. In 1918, the J.W. Knight Abstract Company and the Barry Abstract Company merged to form the Knight-Barry Abstract Company. Joseph J. Patrick then acquired full ownership and later sold to his children Glenn J. Patrick, Wallace E. Patrick and Gladys Patrick Foldy in the 1950's. In 1979, Jeffrey B. Green acquired the company from the Patrick and Foldy families and later renamed it Knight Barry Title, Inc. Today, Knight Barry Title has 54 offices located throughout Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota and over 360 experienced title professionals.