Dallas County AlArchives Photo person.....W. W. Quarles 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 20, 2004, 4:07 pm Source: Brant & Fuller (1893) Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dallas/photos/gph391wwquarle.jpg Image file size: 106.7 Kb COL. W. W. QUARLES, the young and eloquent solicitor of the fourth. judicial circuit of Alabama, comes from an old and distinguished family of Virginia, the Carolinas and of Tennessee, and the name holds a prominent relation to the public affairs of these states up to the present time, as well as with the affairs of Alabama, in the person of the colonel. The family in descended from English stock of renown, Robert Quarles, having been at one time poet laureate of England. The father of the colonel, William Washington Quarles, came from Edgefield, S. C., in the territorial days of Alabama, and here died about the close of the late war from pneumonia contracted from exposure while serving in the Confederate army. In Alabama the name has attained prominence and celebrity, while in Tennessee possibly no other name is more widely known. Gen. J. M. Quarles, of Nashville, a brilliant lawyer, made one of the most able and eloquent speeches delivered at the democratic national convention at Chicago in 1888, on the occasion of seconding the nomination of Cleveland for president of the United States, and Judge W. W. Quarles, of Clarksville, Tenn., has won lasting renown as a judge and jurist. Senator Roger Quarles Mills, of Texas, is a scion of the family, and numerous others of prominence are scattered through the south. Gen. J. M. Quarles, of Milwaukee, a well known lawyer and ex-Federal general is doubtless a member of this family. William Washington Quarles, the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, was born at Pleasant Hill, Dallas county, Ala., May 24, 1865, two months after the death of his father. Was very successful as a boy farmer, and out of the proceeds of his farm products, subsequently gave himself a thorough academic, collegiate and professional education. In January, 1881, he entered Moore's Southern Business university, where, after a three months' course, May 2, 1881, he graduated with high honors. He then returned to Selma and read law under Capt. Joseph F. Johnston for two years, and under Col. S. W. John for one year. In 1884, he matriculated at the state university and entered the sophomore scientific class, readily and easily taking the lead. At the next session he changed to the classical, finishing with honor, the whole Greek course in one scholastic year. He not only finished the classical course, but took the law course, beside, and received his diplomas in both courses, June, 1887, graduating with the three first honors in the academic course, being senior captain of the corps of cadets, and taking the Carnahan essay or ready-writer's prize, and the Trustee's medal for the best oration, best delivered, on his graduation, and receiving distinguished honors at the same time in the law class. He was, by appointment of the faculty, one of the three editors of the Alabama University Monthly, and one of two editors of an eight-column daily, the Commencement Daily, during the commencement of 1887. While at the university he was an ardent member of the Phi Delta Theta Greek letter fraternity, being sent by his chapter in 1886 a delegate to New York to attend the national convention of the fraternity. While there he was made province president of the fraternity over a dozen southern states. At their national convention in Bloomington, Ill., October, 1889, he was unanimously elected to the second official chair of the national Greek letter fraternity of the United States-historian, which position he held for two years. At its next national convention in Atlanta, in October, 1891, without being a candidate, he was elected president of this fraternity, over three popular candidates-being the first southerner to hold this high office. In 1887, in the fall, he was made principal of the Greenville public schools. His school opened with seven pupils and closed with 177. In the spring of 1888, though unanimously elected president of the South Alabama institute, the Methodist college at Greenville, he declined the management of the school; received a license from the supreme court of Alabama, June 30, 1888, to practice in all the courts of the state, and returned to Selma, where he entered the practice of law as a junior member of the firm of John & Quarles. On the removal of Col. W. S. John, to Birmingham, in 1889, Mr. Quarles became the partner of Mr. H. S. D. Mallory in the firm of Mallory & Quarles. In September, 1890, this firm dissolved partnership, and Mr. Quarles became the senior member of the law firm of Quarles & McLeod. October 1, 1891, he and Mr. McLeod dissolved partnership, and Mr. Quarles is now practicing alone. In May, 1888, he was elected over three competitors, almost unanimously to the advisory position of city attorney of Selma, and one year later was re-elected to a second term. At the organization of the Third Alabama regiment in 1885, he was appointed sergeant-major of this regiment. One year later he was made adjutant, with rank of captain, which position he held until July 11, 1888, when he was elected colonel over three able and distinguished competitors. In January, 1891, he was one of five delegates from Alabama, appointed by Gov. Thomas Seay, to the national guard convention, which assembled at Washington, D. C. He resigned the colonelcy, July 11, 1891, against the wishes of all the regiment. When he assumed command of the regiment it was composed of six companies only, heavily in debt, and was on the very verge of disintegration. By his tact at organization, and his popularity with the regiment-both officers and privates-he in one year brought the regiment to twelve infantry companies, one battery, and one cavalry company, the full quota allowed by law. This regiment, under his command, became one of the best disciplined and most efficient military organizations in the south, as was demonstrated in Montgomery on December 1, 1890, at Governor Jones' inauguration. Col. Quarles was, perhaps, at the time, the youngest officer in command of a regiment in the United States. On March 26, 1890, at the primary election in Dallas county, he was nominated by popular vote to the general assembly of Alabama. In the appointment of committees he was given prominence on the judiciary and revision of laws committees, and was made chairman of the committee on military-unusual honors for a member's first term-and made a state-wide reputation for ability, and fearless advocacy of right. Free from demagoguery, ruggedly honest, of stern simplicity, a true and sincere friend, of clear and positive ideas, he is a man of strong convictions and has the courage to maintain and express his convictions, though of cool judgment-and conservative views. In 1892, he declined re-election to the legislature, though urged by friends to accept a second time. The Montgomery Journal, February 12, 1891, has this to say in compliment of the colonel's personality and ability: "Col. W. W. Quarles, of Dallas, is a fine representative of the young democracy of Alabama. He is only about twenty-seven years of age, and yet by his ability, suavity and gallantry he has won a high place as a legislator, not only with his fellow-members of the present general assembly of Alabama, but throughout the state. A ready debater, an excellent lawyer, a fine belles-lettres scholar, a Christian gentleman of the highest type-a man, in short, possessed of a vigorous and cultivated mind, a heart of courtesy and kindness, and a genial manner; it is hard to say what position may be beyond reach of his aspirations should his health and strength be spared him." February 24, 1892, he married Miss Ida B. Smith, the daughter of Washington M. Smith, deceased, one of the most intellectual, beautiful and accomplished daughters of the south. November 21, 1892, he was elected, by the state legislature of Alabama, solicitor of the fourth judicial circuit, comprising Dallas, Hale, Lowndes, Perry and Wilcox counties-five of the wealthiest and most populous agricultural counties in the state-over four of the most prominent young lawyers in the circuit and most popular competitors, receiving fourteen more votes in the democratic caucus than all his competitors. Immediately he entered upon the discharge of the import-ant duties of this responsible office, and has already established the reputation of being an able, impartial, just and fearless prosecuting officer, earning and receiving the fullest measure of approval from bench, bar and people. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 908, 909-912 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 9.1 Kb