Gerrit Klay founded Klay Law Firm in 1898 after gaining experience with the firm of Hutchinson and Van Oosterhout. Gerrit, who never attended law school, was a widely respected trial lawyer. He was joined by his son, Teunis E. "Deacon" Klay, in 1915 and the two practiced together until the elder Klay's death in 1939. Upon returning from overseas duty