about us

McCarthy Abstract company was founded in 1896 by Michael H. McCarthy.

Mr. McCarthy, a pioneer resident of Holt County, was born in Troy, New York, in 1864.  He moved to Holt County and homesteaded northeast of Atkinson in 1884, where he lived until moving to O’Neill in 1893 .  He and his wife, Ethel Morse, raised nine children during their 53-year residency in O’Neill.

Mr. McCarthy was active in local politics, serving at various times as the chair of the county Democratic central committee and held a number of county office positions.  His interest in and knowledge of county affairs proved helpful when, in 1896, he began his abstracting.  He continued the abstraction business until his death in 1946.

Following his death, Michael's youngest daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Norman Gonderinger, took over McCarthy Abstract Company.  In 1972, Norman Gonderinger became a Holt County Judge, and Jeanne Gonderinger separately continued the abstract business as a licensed abstracter.  In November of 1983, McCarthy Abstract Company was sold to Ronald M. Shonka, of Shonka Real Estate, Inc., and was operated by Tim Gray, as a registered abstracter and title insurance agent.

In 1987, Tim and his wife Peg Hammond Gray purchased McCarthy Abstract Company, as well as  Holt County Abstract Company.  The business was incorporated as McCarthy Abstract Company and expanded into Wheeler and Boyd counties. In the fall of 1992, McCarthy Abstract Company moved to its present location at 118 North Fifth Street in O'Neill, Nebraska.

The abstract and land title business has changed significantly over the years, from the hand written abstract, to the typewriter, and later to word processors and the computer.  Now, a major portion of the old abstract work has been taken over by title insurance.  The latest service required of the abstract and title company is that of escrow closings.  The company began offering this service in 1992.  In 1993, Dana Kelly took on all responsibilities of escrow agent for the company.  

In 2015, Cody Boettcher purchased McCarthy Abstract and continues to provide services as they have for many years. His wife, Ashley, practices law in O'Neill, and they have 4 children.

In 2024 we purchased Avery Gurnsey Law's title operations in Bassett Nebraska to continue providing service to the areas of Rock, Brown, and Keya Paha Counties.