Biographical Sketches
ROBERT W. QUARLES
Has for 35 years been a resident of Kansas City, and for more than a quarter of a century has been connected with the bar at this place. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 15th of May, 1847, and is a son of William and Harriet (Walpole) Quarles. The family is of Welsh origin and was founded in America by the grandfather, William Quarles, a native of Wales, who on emigrating to the new world took up his residence in Kentucky in pioneer days and became one of the extensive landowners of that state. Prominent and influential in public affairs, he served for 20 years as sheriff of Franklin county, discharging his duties with a fearlessness and fidelity that caused his long retention in office and won him the confidence and high regard of all. He made his home near Frankfort, the county seat, and was about 70 years of age at the time of his death. His family numbered 14 children.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Luke Walpole, previous to the panic of 1821, carried on the most extensive mercantile business west of the Alleghanies, his store being located in Zanesville, Ohio; but in the financial depression that then swept the country he lost much of his property, his remaining possessions being valued at about $100,000. This was a very small amount compared with his princely fortune. In 1828 he removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where his death occurred, in 1838, when he had attained the age of 70 years. He descended from the prominent Walpole family of England, and was a native of that country. He was a graduate of Oxford, and when a young man came to America simply to visit the country, but was so pleased with the new world that he would not return. He started in business life here as a school teacher, and steadily worked his way upward until he had become the most extensive merchant west of the Alleghanies. His wife descended from the Gillespie family to which James G. Blaine traced his ancestry, and the Ewings of Ohio were also members of the same family.
William Quarles, father of our subject, was a native of Kentucky and in his early life studied law. Establishing an office in Indianapolis, he attained considerable prominence as a legal practitioner, and was known as one of the finest criminal lawyers in the state. He married Harriet Walpole, a native of Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of 9 children - 5 sons and 4 daughters - of whom 2 are now living, namely: Robert W.; and Ida, who lives with her brother. The father died in Indianapolis, in December, 1849, at the comparatively early age of 44 years. His wife survived him until 1870, her death occurring in Kansas City, which had become her home in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Quarles were both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Robert W. Quarles, whose name introduces this review, was a youth of 13 years when he came with his mother to Kansas City. Here he began clerking, which pursuit he followed for many years, and then took up the study of law under the preceptorship of Messrs. Karnes & Ess, well known practitioners. He was admitted to the bar in 1869, and has since engaged in the prosecution of his profession here. He has met with good success in his undertakings, is a man of precision and keen perception, and while strongly fortifying his own case often attacks with unanswerable argument that of his opponent. He now has a large clientage and is doing a good business.
On the 18th of October, 1871, Mr. Quarles was united in marriage with Miss Augusta P. Williams, and they had 4 children, but Percy and Hattie are now deceased. The living are Robert and Ivan. Mrs. Quarles is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Quarles is a prominent republican, and for 3 terms has served as city counselor of Kansas City, and at various times has been chairman of the republican city, county and congressional committees, and also a member of the state committee.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.