Joseph V. Quarles
Encyclopedia
Joseph Very Quarles, Jr. (December 16, 1843 October 7, 1911) was an American
politician of the Republican Party
who served as a United States federal judge
and as a United States Senator
from Wisconsin
.
(then Southport), Wisconsin, the son of Joseph Very Quarles and his wife Caroline (Bullen) Quarles. Both had moved to Wisconsin with their families when they were children. Joseph had one brother, Charles, who would become his law partner. He married Caroline "Carrie" Adelaide Saunders on September 25, 1868, and they had three sons: Joseph Very Quarles III, William Charles Quarles, and Edward Louis Quarles.
Quarles served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He graduated from the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor
, in 1866. He graduated again from the university's law department
the next year, was admitted to the bar in 1868, and practiced law in Kenosha. There he served as district attorney for Kenosha County
from 1870 to 1876 and as Kenosha's mayor in 1876.
Quarles made his way into state politics, serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1879 and the Wisconsin State Senate
from 1880 to 1882.
He served one term in the U.S. Senate from March 4, 1899, to March 4, 1905; he did not run for reelection.
After his term, Quarles was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt
on February 25, 1905, as U.S. district court
judge for the eastern district of Wisconsin, to a seat vacated by William H. Seaman. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 6, 1905, and received commission the same day, serving until his death. He died at age 67 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, and was interred in Kenosha.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
who served as a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
and as a United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Biography
Joseph Quarles was born in KenoshaKenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
(then Southport), Wisconsin, the son of Joseph Very Quarles and his wife Caroline (Bullen) Quarles. Both had moved to Wisconsin with their families when they were children. Joseph had one brother, Charles, who would become his law partner. He married Caroline "Carrie" Adelaide Saunders on September 25, 1868, and they had three sons: Joseph Very Quarles III, William Charles Quarles, and Edward Louis Quarles.
Quarles served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, in 1866. He graduated again from the university's law department
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
the next year, was admitted to the bar in 1868, and practiced law in Kenosha. There he served as district attorney for Kenosha County
Kenosha County, Wisconsin
-Demographics: As of the census of 2000, there were 149,577 people, 56,057 households, and 38,455 families residing in the county. The population density was 548 people per square mile . There were 59,989 housing units at an average density of 220 per square mile...
from 1870 to 1876 and as Kenosha's mayor in 1876.
Quarles made his way into state politics, serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1879 and the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
from 1880 to 1882.
He served one term in the U.S. Senate from March 4, 1899, to March 4, 1905; he did not run for reelection.
After his term, Quarles was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
on February 25, 1905, as U.S. district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
judge for the eastern district of Wisconsin, to a seat vacated by William H. Seaman. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on March 6, 1905, and received commission the same day, serving until his death. He died at age 67 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and was interred in Kenosha.