RARE "Civil War Attorney" John Dunlap Wendell Signed Legal Document For Sale

Up for sale a RARE! "Civil War Era New York Attorney" John Dunlap Wendell Signed Legal Document dated 1894. 

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He grew up on the family homestead in Sprout Brook where his

father was farming and also the post master of the area. John on occasions

carried the mail for his father between Buel and Sprout Brook. He was greatly

interested in education and as a young man took required exams and secured a

teaching position in Mapletown. He worked at his teaching profession and worked

on the farm in the summer, so wages let him eventually go to the Albany Law

School. He completed his course of study there and was admitted to the bar.

Going back to Fort Plain he worked for two years for county judge and surrogate

for Montgomery County, Judge Yost. He then opened his own law firm and

practiced by himself until 1874 when his younger brother, Frederick Fox Wendell

became his partner. They practiced law together until 1883 when the partnership

was dissolved. The Wendell brothers during their partnership were involved in

many of the legal cases of high intensity in the Mohawk Valley. It was John

Dunlap and Frederick Fox Wendell who obtained the right of way for Herkimer,

Montgomery and Schnectady counties for the West Shore Railroad. After

they dissolved their partnership, Edwin S. Van Duesen became a partner to John

Dunlap Wendell. Their partership remained intact until 1888. Three terms

as Montgomery county judge and surrogate was served by John Dunlap Wendell. In

1902 Judge Wendell went back into private practice with a new partner, Fox

Sponable. Aside from his law business, he was always very involved in

community affairs. He a member of the State and County Bar Association, serving

on the state level and number of years as the vice-president. He was on the

board of directors for the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Fort Plain, as he was

one of the incorporaters of that insitution. A very devoutly religious man he

served on the board of trustees as president for many years at the M. E. Church

in Fort Plain. He taught Sunday School for 30 years and also served as the

Sunday School superintendent. He was also a Mason and the president of the Fort

Plain Social and Literary Club.