James B. Martindale

Who was James B. Martindale?

James B. Martindale was a founder of the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the noted catalog of lawyers. He was also known as J.B. Martindale.

Martindale was born on his family’s farm in Henry County, Indiana; a son of Elder Elijah Martindale. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and established a law firm in Indianapolis, which he later moved to Chicago. Still later, he led the New York, New York office of the firm.

He published the first issue of The Martindale Directory in 1868.