James W. Liddle, a representative and leading young attorney of Schenectady, where he has practiced continuously during the past twelve years, is also the capable incumbent in the position of city judge, to which he was elected for a four-year term in November, 1923. He is the senior member of the well known law firm of Liddle & Hughes. His birth occurred in Duanesburg, Schenectady county, New York, on the 14th of October, 1885, his parents being Robert A. and Rebecca (Wemple) Liddle, who were also natives of the same place. Both the grandfather and the great-grandfather of James W. Liddle in the paternal line were born on the farm which is still the home of Robert A. Liddle, and which the latter cultivated successfully until his retirement from active life in 1918. The fact that four generations of the name were born on the farm at Duanesburg shows how closely the representatives of the family have been connected with the development and growth of Schenectady county. Robert Liddle, the great-grandfather of Judge Liddle of this review, was one of the founders of the Reformed Presbyterian church and for a half century served as one of its elders. His son, Alexander Liddle, was born on the homestead farm in Duanesburg on April 7, 1826, and devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. He held membership in the Reformed Presbyterian church which was founded by his father and had reached the venerable age of ninety-seven years when called to his final rest on the 14th of November, 1923.
James W. Liddle, whose name introduces this review, began his education in the district schools of his native county and later continued his studies in the grade and high schools. For a period of three years, from 1907 until 1910, he was an instructor in the schools of Rotterdam and Schenectady, but he considered this merely as an initial step to other professional labor and prepared himself for law practice as a student in the Albany Law School, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. He has remained an active representative of the legal profession in Schenectady since 1912, being first associated with Ex-Senator W. W. Wemple. He holds membership in the New York State Bar Association and the Schenectady County Bar Association. The legal profession demands not only a high order of ability, but a rare combination of talent, learning, tact, patience and industry. The successful lawyer and the competent judge must be a man of well balanced intellect, thoroughly familiar with the law and practice, of comprehensive general information, possessed of an analytical mind and a self-control that will enable him to lose his individuality, his personal feelings, his prejudices and his peculiarities of disposition in the dignity, impartiality and equity of the office to which life, property, right and liberty must look for protection. Possessing these qualities, Judge Liddle justly merits the honor which was conferred upon him by his election to the city bench.
On the 24th of September, 1918, Judge Liddle was united in marriage to Miss Isabel Turnbull, with whom he resides at No. 303 Glenwood boulevard, Schenectady. They also maintain a country home at Duanesburg, where the Judge has extensive farming interests.
Fraternally Judge Liddle is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. He also belongs to the Chattamas Club of North Creek, New York, to the Chamber of Commerce, the Schenectady Automobile Association, the Schenectady Realty Association, and the Kiwanis Club. He is financial secretary of the Schenectady County Republican Club, and from 1917 until 1923 acted as assistant district attorney. A worthy representative of one of the old and highly respected families of Schenectady county, Judge Liddle has won a position of prominence in his profession through the wise utilization of the talents with which nature has endowed him.