Career
Born in Christian County, Kentucky, his family moved to Arkansas in 1851. Quarles was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and during his time, along with James Frank Hopkins and James McIlvaine Riley founded the Sigma Nu Fraternity. In his early professional life, Quarles was a public servant having been elected a first district prosecuting attorney, a county judge, and probate judge.
Quarles served in the Confederate States Army during the civil war as a Private.
During the Spanish–American War, Quarles volunteered with the Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (Arkansas State Guard and the Spanish–American War) when called upon by the United States Army as a Major. Quarles did not participate in any battles in Cuba during the war.
During World War I, Quarles served as a special agent to the United States Government. Quarles died at his home in Helena, Arkansas.