He studied law for a time, but did not finish. Instead, he worked as a clerk at the Fort Plain National Bank. In 1894 he entered the Comptroller's department and remained there for the rest of his life. For ten years he was Deputy Comptroller and in 1920 was elected New York State Comptroller on the Republican ticket. At the time, he was the first state cabinet officer who had been a career employee of his department.
In 1920, his predecessor Eugene M. Travis, Wendell and bond broker Albert L. Judson were indicted on charges of grand larceny. It was charged that Travis as Comptroller and Wendell as Deputy Comptroller had bought from Judson bonds at prices above the market for the State Sinking Fund, and so caused the loss of $230,000 for the State. The charges were dismissed in October 1921 because of lack of evidence to show criminal intent.
