Tunstal Quarles
Encyclopedia
Tunstall Quarles was a United States
lawyer
and politician
, as well as one of the pioneer settlers of Somerset, Kentucky
in Pulaski County
.
He was born in King William County, Virginia
, in approximately 1781, and moved with his parents to Woodford County, Kentucky
in 1789.
He came to Somerset sometime before 1812, for in May 1812, he was one of a commission to supervise the building of a County Clerk’s office.
He was a lawyer and became a member of the state legislature
in 1811 and 1812. In the War of 1812
, he armed and equipped a company of the Second Regiment Kentucky Militia at his own expense and then commanded them. After the war, he served as a circuit court
judge. He was elected as a Democrat-Republican to be a member of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses and served from March 1817 until his resignation in July 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.
He returned to Somerset in July 1824, where he resumed his law practice and agricultural pursuits.
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. Little else is known about the role of Tunstal Quarles in masonic lore.
In 1828, Quarles was again elected to the state House of Representatives, and was elector on the Democratic ticket of Jackson and Calhoun. He served a term in the state Senate
in 1840.
Tunstal Quarles died in Somerset on November 26, 1856, and is interred in the old Baptist Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, as well as one of the pioneer settlers of Somerset, Kentucky
Somerset, Kentucky
The major demographic differences between the city and the micropolitan area relate to income, housing composition and age. The micropolitan area, as compared to the incorporated city, is more suburban in flavor and has a significantly younger housing stock, a higher income, and contains most of...
in Pulaski County
Pulaski County, Kentucky
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 63,063 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Somerset6. The county is named for Count Kazimierz Pułaski. Most of the county is a prohibition or dry county...
.
He was born in King William County, Virginia
King William County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,146 people, 4,846 households, and 3,784 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 5,189 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
, in approximately 1781, and moved with his parents to Woodford County, Kentucky
Woodford County, Kentucky
Woodford County is a county located in the heart of the Bluegrass region of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 23,208. Its county seat is Versailles. The county is named for General William Woodford, who was with General George Washington at Valley Forge...
in 1789.
He came to Somerset sometime before 1812, for in May 1812, he was one of a commission to supervise the building of a County Clerk’s office.
He was a lawyer and became a member of the state legislature
Kentucky General Assembly
The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky.The General Assembly meets annually in the state capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky, convening on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January...
in 1811 and 1812. In the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he armed and equipped a company of the Second Regiment Kentucky Militia at his own expense and then commanded them. After the war, he served as a circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judge. He was elected as a Democrat-Republican to be a member of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses and served from March 1817 until his resignation in July 1820.
He was appointed receiver of public moneys for the Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Cape Girardeau County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 75,764. While the largest city in the county is Cape Girardeau, the county seat is actually Jackson, which was the first city named in honor of President...
land district, with offices at Jackson, Missouri
Jackson, Missouri
Jackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
, and served from May 1821 to July 1824.
He returned to Somerset in July 1824, where he resumed his law practice and agricultural pursuits.
Like so many other early figures of Pulaski County
Pulaski County, Kentucky
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 63,063 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Somerset6. The county is named for Count Kazimierz Pułaski. Most of the county is a prohibition or dry 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. Little else is known about the role of Tunstal Quarles in masonic lore.
In 1828, Quarles was again elected to the state House of Representatives, and was elector on the Democratic ticket of Jackson and Calhoun. He served a term in the state Senate
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
in 1840.
Tunstal Quarles died in Somerset on November 26, 1856, and is interred in the old Baptist Cemetery.