Congressman Tunstall Quarles

Tunstall Quarles was born in King William County, Va., on May 11, 1781. He attended the local schools; moved with his parents to Woodford County, Ky., about 1790. He had a long and illustrious career as a politician representing his adopted state.

He studied law; was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Woodford County. He became a member of the State House of Representatives in 1796. He moved to Somerset, Pulaski County, KY, and represented that county as member of the State House of Representatives in 1811 and 1812.

He was appointed circuit judge by the Governor of Kentucky. He was elected as a Republican to the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses and served from March 4, 1817, until his resignation effective June 15, 1820. He was appointed receiver of public moneys for the Cape Girardeau land district, with offices at Jackson, Missouri., and served from May 1821 to July 1824, when he returned to Somerset, Kentucky.

Once back in Kentucky, Tunstall Quarles engaged in agricultural pursuits and the practice of law. He was elected a member and speaker of the State House of Representatives in 1828, and served in the State Senate in 1840.

During the War of 1812, at his own expense, he armed and equipped a company of the Second Regiment, Kentucky Militia, which he commanded.

Like so many other early figures of Pulaski County history, Tunstal Quarles was an avid member of the Freemasons. Using funding from the National Freemason Association, Quarles was able to organize the first bank in Somerset, the Farmers Bank, and served as president from 1825 to 1827.

Tunstall died in Somerset, Kentucky on January 7, 1855. His interment was in the old Baptist Cemetery.

Links to additional material:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunstal_Quarles
• http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=Q000005
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Quarles&GSfn=...