Wesley H. Maider, a prominent lawyer of Gloversville and former city attorney for a number of years, was a partner of the late William B. Baker, under the firm name of Baker & Maider, until death brought a sudden end to the latter's career in June, 1924. Mr. Maider has been an active figure in Gloversville professional circles for twenty-odd years and is regarded as one of the leading members of the legal fraternity in this vicinity. Born in Onondaga county, February 4, 1879, he has always lived in the Empire state. His father, Henry W. Maider, was a native of Nova Scotia who came to New York at the age of eighteen and has been actively engaged in farming in Onondaga county ever since. He is hale and hearty at the age of seventy-four and continues to follow the vigorous pursuits of an agriculturist. Henry W. Maider married Mellissa Plaisted, one of Onondaga county's native daughters, who died in February, 1898.
Wesley H. Maider's boyhood was not unlike that of other country bred youths of central New York state. After finishing the course in the Phoenix high school he entered Cornell University, in the autumn of 1898, and three years later graduated with the Bachelor of Laws degree. In the same year he was admitted to practice as an attorney and went into a Syracuse law office to obtain some practical experience in the legal field before embarking upon a career of his own. Mr. Maider came to Gloversville in 1903, to form a legal partnership with Frank C. Wood, which was continued with success and mutual profit until the death of Mr. Wood in 1912. In June, 1922, Mr. Maider became associated with the late William B. Baker in the firm of Baker & Maider, successors to the old and distinguished firm of Baker, Burton & Baker, which had among its members some of the foremost lawyers of this generation in Fulton county. Mr. Baker was a lawyer of the highest calibre and for many years had been connected with most of the important trials in this section. Mr. Maider's association with him in a partnership was, therefore, one of mutual benefit and profit, each man ably supplementing the work and talents of the other. Unfortunately this partnership was destined to be short-lived, for Mr. Baker died suddenly in the summer of 1924, at the height of his career. Since then Mr. Maider has been bearing alone the heavy responsibilities of their joint practice.
In 1913 Mr. Maider was appointed city attorney for Gloversville and served in that position for ten consecutive years. He is very prominent in the fraternal, business and financial life of the city, belonging to the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Maccabees, the Elks, the Order of Foresters, the Eccentric Club and the Sir William Johnson Country Club, while his interest in civic matters is evidenced by his membership in the local Kiwanis Club, and he is a director of the City National Bank of Gloversville. Mr. Maider is also attorney for the Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad Company, the City National Bank of Gloversville, the Northville Bank of Northville, and many of the business corporations of Gloversville, New York. Mr. Maider belongs to the First Methodist Episcopal church of Gloversville and votes the republican ticket. Unlike many members of his profession, he has not sought a public career, and aside from holding the office of city attorney has confined his interests mainly to the strict path of his profession. In this connection he maintains membership in the American, New York State and Gloversville Bar Associations.
On the 1st of September, 1904, Mr. Maider was married to Miss Louise Fisher, the daughter of Fred L. and Carrie (Monl) Fisher, natives of Onondaga county, and comes from a family that dates back to pre-Revolutionary days in this state. Her father operated a farm in his native county the greater part of his life, but he is now retired and he and his wife have their home in Baldwinsville. Mr. and Mrs. Maider have one child: Lydon Fisher Maider, born June 14, 1905, who is now a student in Amherst College.