Biography of Joseph V.
Quarles
This biography appears on pages 565-566 in
"Men of Progress. Wisconsin. A selected list of biographical sketches and
portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together
with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin."
QUARLES, Joseph V., one of the distinguished members of the Milwaukee bar, was
born in Kenosha, formerly, Southport, Wis., December 16th, 1843. His
father's family came originally from New Hampshire, and his father, Joseph V.
Quarles, Sr., was a native of that state, but his mother was a native of New
York. Both his parents were among the earliest settlers of Southport, and were
married there when it was a mere hamlet. J. V. Quarles, Sr., was the founder of
the Bain Wagon works at Kenosha, which, prior to 1857, was one of the noted
manufacturing establishments of the state. The financial panic of that year
brought disaster to the business and left Mr. Quarles is straitened
circumstances. But with that appreciation of the practical value of a liberal
education for which the people of New England are noted, Mr. Quarles determined
that his children should not fail of receiving this capital which panics cannot
destroy, although it necessitated no little self-denial on the part of the
parents. Young Quarles pursued his studies in the public schools and the high
school of Kenosha, graduating from the latter when he was seventeen years of
age. The following two years were spent in teaching and in earning money in
other ways for the expenses of a college course, which he had set his heart upon
pursuing. In 1862 he entered the University of Michigan as a freshman. He was
conspicuous among his classmates from the start, and, upon the organization of
the class, was chosen its president and class orator for that year. The struggle
of the government with the rebellion enlisted his sympathies and aroused all his
patriotic impulses. He left his studies and enlisted in the Thirty-ninth
regiment of Wisconsin infantry, and was mustered into service as first
lieutenant of Company C. At the expiration of his service he returned to the
university and was graduated with the class of 1866, with the degree of A. B. He
then entered the law department of that institution, spending a year therein.
Having exhausted his financial resources he returned to Kenosha and continued
his law studies in the office of O. S. Head, a distinguished lawyer of those
days; with whom, upon his admission to the bar, in 1868, he formed a law
partnership, the firm name being Head & Quarles. As the senior member of this
firm was advanced in years, the young lawyer was assigned to the heaviest burden
of the work, and soon became one of the most prominent members of the Kenosha
bar. The firm continued until the death of Mr. Head in 1875, and during six
years of its existence Mr. Quarles was district attorney of Kenosha county. His
ability and activity soon led to his being called to duties outside of his
profession. In 1876 he was elected mayor of Kenosha, and the two following years
he wa president of the Kenosha board of education. In 1879 he was a member of
the legislative assembly, and in 1880 and 1881 he was the representative of
Kenosha and Walworth counties in the state senate. Removing to Racine, he formed
a law partnership with John B. Winslow, which continued until that gentleman was
elected judge of the First judicial circuit. Afterward he had for partners,
successively, T. W. Spence, formerly of Fond du Lac, and Joseph R. Dyer.
Afterwards the firm became Quarles, Spence & Quarles, the junior member being a
younger brother. In 1888 this firm came to Milwaukee, where it commands a very
large and diversified business. Mr. Quarles, as the head of the firm, takes
charge of the more notable cases, and in this capacity has been connected with
some of the most celebrated cases in the history of the state. He was employed
by the state to assist in the prosecution of the Hurley bank robbers, which
resulted in the conviction of Leonard Perrin; the trial of the alleged murderer
of Mead, the Waupaca banker, in which he also represented the state; and he
defended one of the ex-treasurers in the suits for the recovery of the interest
on state funds deposited in banks, and he has been connected with other
celebrated cases.
As a lawyer, he has been very successful, and has acquired a reputation as
one of the clearest, most forcible and eloquent advocates in the state. His
manner in the conduct of a case in such as to command the respect and confidence
of all parties, on whatever side interested. His style as a speaker is very
pleasing, whether at the bar or in the forum, being adorned with such classic
and historic allusions as serve to illustrate and enforce his subject. He has
always been a Republican in politics, and by reason of his great abilities as a
public speaker, he is called upon in every important campaign to sustain the
principles of the party upon the rostrum, and in this way has rendered his party
great service. He has frequently been mentioned as a suitable man for the United
States senate, and his selection as a candidate for that high office would no
doubt meet the approval of very many voters throughout the state.
Mr. Quarles war married, in 1868, to Miss Carrie A. Saunders of Chicago, and
they have three sons, two of whom have graduated from the University of
Michigan, the oldest now being connected with the law firm.