NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME II 1804-1926 J. W. KINDIG Iowa has always been distinguished for the high rank of her lawyers and as one of the ablest and most successful members of the legal profession in the state James w. Kindig is entitled to specific mention in this work. The firm of Kindig, Stewart & Hatfield, of Sioux City, is recognized generally as one of the strongest law firms in the northwest and not a little of this prestige has been gained through the personal labors and ability of Mr. Kindig, who has long enjoyed a reputation as an unusually sound and safe practitioner. James W. Kindig was born in Welton, Iowa, on the 3d of December, 1879, a son of David and Margaret (Tully) Kindig. His father was a native of Massillon, Ohio, and came of Swiss and Pennsylvania German stock. The grandfather, Jacob Kindig, drove through from Ohio to Iowa, with his family, in a prairie schooner, in 1854, at which time the son David was but two years of age. They settled in Welton, Clinton county, and were among the earliest pioneers. There Jacob Kindig spent his remaining years, dying at the age of seventy-nine years. David Kindig was reared on the Clinton county farm, and was educated in the district schools. About 1877 he was married to Margaret Tully, who was born and reared at Welton. Her father, James Tully, came to this country from Scotland and first settled in the vicinity of Welton, Clinton county. David Kindig continued to farm in Clinton county until 1886, when he came to Woodbury county, buying a farm in Arlington township, which is still a part of the estate. His death occurred there in October, 1917, at the age of sixty-five years. James W. Kindig attended the district schools and Morningside Academy. Later he attended Morningside College, where he was graduated in 1906, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and then entered the law school of the University of Washington, where he received his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1907. he immediately came to Sioux City and engaged in practice in partnership with W.L. Harding, who later (1916-19) served as governor of Iowa. Some five or six years later Mr. Kindig severed this connection and allied himself with W. H. Munger, now judge of the fourth judicial district court. This law partnership continued until January 1, 1915, after which Mr. Kindig served two and a half years as assistant county prosecuting attorney and corporate counsel for the board of supervisors. For a year following he served as assistant attorney general of Iowa and in 1918 the law firm of Kindig, McGill, Stewart & Hatfield was formed, continuing until 1925, when Mr. McGill withdrew from the firm to become Iowa attorney for the Chicago Joint Stock Land Bank at Des Moines. The firm are attorneys for the Sioux City Public Utilities, for the Armour Packing Company, The Toy National Bank, The Farmers Loan & Trust Company and for numerous bonding and insurance companies and has been associated as counsel with practically all of the more important cases in the local courts and those of neighboring counties. On September 3, 1908, Mr. Kindig was married to Miss Gerturde Crossan, who was born and reared in Sioux City, a daughter of Allen Crossan, who came to this city in the '80s and for several years was one of the notable figures in the building of a greater Sioux City, being extensively engaged in the real estate business. He now lives in Los Angeles, California. Mr. and Mrs. Kindig have two children, Burdette C., born February 22, 1911, and Lowell c., November 26, 1913. Mr. Kindig is a member of Morningside Lodge, No. 615, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Morningside Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Columbian Commandery, No. 18, Knights Templar; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Abu-Bekr Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Sioux City Lodge, No. 112, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, the Professional Men's Club, the Sioux City Country Club, the Sioux City Rod and Reel Club, and maintains professional affiliation with the Sioux City Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is a member of the board of trustees of Morningside College and is a director of the Sioux City Service Company. Mr. Kindig is a man of forceful individuality and attractive personality. By a straightforward, honorable course he has built up a large and lucrative legal business and has been successful far beyond the average of his calling. In discussions of the principles of law he is noted for clearness of statement and candor, his zeal for a client never leading him to urge an argument which is not in harmony with the law. Years of conscientious work have brought with them no only increase of practice and reputation, but also that growth in legal knowledge and that wide and accurate judgment the possession of which constitutes excellence in the profession of law. He maintains a deep interest in the public affairs of his city, giving his earnest support to every measure for the upbuilding of the city and the betterment of the public welfare, and no worthy cause appeals to him in vain. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/