The subject has always sought to inculcate in the minds of the young the
higher things of life, the beauties of mind and soul known only to those who
are willing to devote themselves to a career of self-sacrifice, hospitality,
persistency and uprightness, and during the long years of his professional
life Mr. Quayle succeeded in carrying out the principles in his daily life
that he sought to impress upon others.
J. R. Quayle was born in
Peoria county, Illinois, December 5, 1859, the son of Robert Quayle, a
native of the Isle of Man, a full blooded Manxman. He was an influential and
high minded man, whose sterling traits are somewhat reflected in the life of
his son, our subject. He migrated to America about 1856, locating first in
Henry county, Illinois, where he farmed. After living there for a short time
he moved to Peoria county, later to Marion county in January, 1866. He was a
hard worker and made a success of whatever he undertook. He was called from
his labors in September, 1879, while living in Marion county. He was a great
Bible student and he read and talked the Manx language fluently. James
Quayle, grandfather of the subject, was born, reared and spent his entire
life on the Isle of Man, and his death occurred there. His wife was a Miss
Harrison, who reached the remarkable age of ninety-six years.
The
mother of the subject was Ellen (Corlett) Quayle, also a native of the Isle
of Man, where she, too, was reared, and where she married Robert Quayle. She
was a woman of many estimable traits, having led a wholesome life and in her
old age was the recipient of many kindnesses at the hands of her many
friends and neighbors.
She made her home on the old homestead near
Vernon, Marion county, until her death, September 6, 1908, where the Quayle
family moved in 1866. This family consisted of the following children, named
in order of their birth: Elizabeth, who died in 1880; J. R., our subject;
Anna, the wife of Nathan Roberts, of Patoka, this county; Thomas E., who
lives in section 12, this county, on a farm; James C., also a farmer in
Patoka township, Marion county; Kate, who is the wife of J. C. Bates, of
Patoka township; Mollie, who makes her home with her mother; Mona, the wife
of G. I. Arnold, of Foster township, Marion county.
These children
are all comfortably situated in life and received good common school
education. They are all highly respected and lead such well regulated lives
as their parents outlined for them in their childhood.
J. R. Quayle,
our subject, attended the country schools east of Vernon until 1880, working
at intervals on his father's farm. He was always a close student and made
the most of his opportunities. After completing the course in the common
schools he was not satisfied with the knowledge he had gained and entered
school in the University at Valparaiso, Indiana, taking the teachers'
course, also a commercial course. He made a brilliant record at this
institution for scholarship and good deportment.
Believing that
teaching was his proper field of activity Mr. Quayle began his first school
in 1878 and he taught the major part of the time up to 1906 with the
greatest success attending his efforts, during which time he became widely
known not only in Marion but adjoining counties as an able instructor and
his services were in great demand. He was not only well grounded in the
text-books employed in the schools where he taught but his pleasing
personality made him popular with his pupils, the various phases of whose
natures he seemed to understand and sympathize with, so that he inspired
each one to do his best in the work at hand, and many of his pupils have
since won distinction in various lines of endeavor, all freely admitting
that their success was due in a large measure to the training and influence
of Mr. Quayle. The teaching of our subject was confined to Marion county
with the exception of two years which were spent in Fayette county, where he
also became popular.
Mr. Quayle has been twice married. His first
wedding occurred January 8, 1889, to Lyda E. Livesay, the accomplished
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Livesay, a well known family of Patoka
township, Marion county, and to this union four children were born as
follows: Guy, born in 1891, died at the age of seven years; Gladys E., born
in 1892; Fanny, now deceased, who was born in 1897; Roberta, who was born in
1900.
The subject's first wife was called to her rest in June, 1906,
and Mr. Quayle was married December 15, 1907, to Ida M. Qualls, daughter of
Alfred Qualls. She is a member of an influential family of Salem and was
born and reared there.
Mr. Quayle has been an influential factor in
politics in his county, always assisting in placing the best local men
available in the county offices and his support can always be depended upon
in furthering any worthy movement looking to the better interest of the
community and county. In 1883, 1888 and 1889 he was Tax Collector of Patoka
township, having been easily elected to this office and performed the duties
of it in a most satisfactory manner. He was chosen by his friends to the
responsible position of Supervisor in 1901 and 1902 and elected County Clerk
on the Democratic ticket in 1906, and is now, 1908, serving his first term.
He is said to be one of the ablest men in this office that the county has
ever had, being careful and painstaking as well as congenial and friendly so
that all his constituents are very highly pleased with his record. They
predict that he will become a very potent factor in local politics in the
near future.
Mr. Quayle is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Eastern Star, the Rebekahs and the
Woodmen. He takes a great deal of interest in lodge work and his daily life
would indicate that he believes in carrying out the noble precepts of these
commendable orders.
Mr. Quayle is not only a public-spirited and
honorable man in his official and business life, but he leads a most
wholesome home life and sets a worthy example for his children and others,
delighting in the higher ideals of life as embraced in educational, civic
and religious matters. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church and no people in Marion county are the recipients of higher
respect and genuine esteem from their many friends than they.
Extracted 11 Jul 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 73-75.