Evertson Crosby Kindleberger (1875-1950)

Portrait from "the University of Pennsylvania: Its History, Influence, Equipment...", Vol. II, 1902.

   A leading name in the New York bar during the early 20th century, Evertson Crosby Kindleberger practiced law for nearly fifty years and during that time held a number of important offices in New York City, including assistant corporation counsel to two NYC Mayors and deputy assistant district attorney beginning in 1910. Kindleberger earns a slot here on the site due to his 1912 candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's  14th congressional district. 

  Born in Washington, D.C. on October 31, 1875, E. Crosby Kindleberger was the son of Dr. David (1834-1921) and Mattie Lindsay Poor Kindleberger (1847-1898). A distinguished figure in his own right, David Kindleberger was a physician and Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy. In the late 1870s, he served as Fleet Surgeon for the Asiatic Station and also gained prominence in California as a painter of landscapes, even having his work exhibited publically.

   E. Crosby Kindleberger's early education took place at the Columbian College Preparatory School in Washington and in 1891 enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania. He would graduate in 1894 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and following his graduation continued law studies at that institution. He earned his law degree in 1897 and after further study in the office of Davies, Stone and Auerbach was admitted to the New York bar in 1898.

   Following his resettlement in New York City, Kindleberger became active in Republican circles, "being engaged in the campaign service for McKinley in 1900." He would subsequently take to the stump at various times over the next decade, making a number of addresses for Republican candidates in the "25th assembly district." Kindleberger married in Philadelphia in June 1906 to Elisabeth Randall McIlvaine (1879-1959). The couple's fifty-three-year marriage would see the births of five children, Katherine Wirt (1905-1957), Mattie Lindsay (1908-1996), Charles Poor (1910-2003), Elizabeth Randall (1911-2003) and Mary Bolling (1914-1994). 

  In 1902 Kindleberger received the appointment as assistant corporation counsel for New York City, serving under Mayor Seth Low. He remained in that post until 1906, whereafter he was named as Deputy Assistant District Attorney for New York County, an office he'd be reappointed to in 1910. Kindleberger's tenure in that post saw him  

"Have charge of many cases in the higher courts, especially those against commercial swindlers. While in the District Attorney's office he conducted in the evening a free legal bureau for the benefit of the people of the east side.

 A member of the law firm of Kindleberger and Robinson, Kindleberger refrained from pursuing elective office until 1912, when he was sought out by Republicans to take on Democratic congressman William Sulzer (1863-1941), then running for re-election to a tenth term. Running as candidates in the newly drawn up 14th congressional district, Sulzer would eventually leave the contest due to receiving the nomination for Governor, whereafter Kindleberger's opponent became Jefferson M. Levy, who had been elected to Congress for a second term in 1911. Kindleberger's past experience as corporation counsel and deputy district attorney was touted through several campaign notices published in the New York Tribune, which noted that:

"He is an advocate of a strong navy, a properly framed protective tariff, and other positive views on public questions, which he will elaborate from the stump."

From the New York Tribune, September 16, 1912.

   As one of seven candidates vying for a congressional seat that year, Kindleberger not only had to contend with Levy's candidacy but also nominees from the Progressive, Socialist, Independence League, and Prohibition party, amongst others. When the votes were tallied on November 5, 1912, it was Jefferson Levy who emerged victorious, garnering 8,950 votes. Kindleberger placed third (with 3,468 votes), with Progressive candidate Abraham Goodman running second with over 4,000 votes.
   While his congressional run ended in defeat, E. Crosby Kindleberger returned to government service in 1914 when he was again named as assistant corporation counsel, this time serving under Mayor John Purroy Mitchel (1879-1918). His second time in that office extended until 1918, whereafter he continued in the practice of law, being a member of the firms Townsend, Kindleberger and Townsend, and Kindleberger and Campbell. A founding member of the University of Pennsylvania Club and a longstanding member of the New York City Bar Association, Kindleberger retired from his law practice in 1942 and died at his home in Flushing, Queens on July 6, 1950, at age 74. He was survived by his wife and five children and was later cremated.

Kindleberger's obituary from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1950.