Pioneer Passes Away - "B. L. Quarles is dead" was the sad intelligence conveyed to the citizens downtown Friday morning. His spirit was wafted to that home on high at 8:40 Thursday night July 10 and the entire community, wife and children, are left desolate. He had been in failing health since Dec. 7, 1900 when he suffered a stroke of paralysis but was able to be about the house until the 30th of last March when he had a second stroke and since that time has been bedfast. Altho his sufferings at times were unbearable, he was patient and seldom complained tho it was hard to lay aside his business duties, as he was of an active and industrious temperament.

Here indeed can be said: "A good man gone." Benjamin Lampton Quarles was born in Overton county, Tenn., May 6, 1826. In 1835, when but a lad of nine, he moved with his parents to Monroe County, Mo. where he was reared and educated. In 1851, he engaged in the mercantile business for himself in Madison, Mo. where for two and one-half years he did a successful business. In 1854, he came to Henry County, where until 1859, he farmed and in the same year was elected county clerk, serving two years. In 1862, he enlisted in the confederate army in Co. K, Second Missouri Cavalry, which company acted as Price's body guard and in which he was second lieutenant. He served until June 1865, when he returned to this city and held a clerkship until the fall of 1869, when he engaged in business for himself and remained in same until elected county clerk in 1874, serving four years. In 1879, he was appointed to fill out an unexpired term as circuit clerk and at the close of that office, in 1880, was elected and served until 1883, when he was again chosen for county clerk. He always made a faithful and conscientious officer, helping the poor by kind, charitable acts. Mr. Quarles was married May 3, 1849 to Miss Sarah E. Young, a Kentuckian whose death occurred in 1852. He was again married March 17, 1853 to Miss Emily Swindell of Monroe County. To them were born five children, three still surviving - Mrs. J. L. Riggins of Weatherford, Texas; Mrs. L. J. Myers of Chicago, and J. E. Quarles of Mineral Wells, Texas.

His two daughters were at his bedside but his son was unable to be here at the time of his death, but arrived in time for the funeral. He united with the M. E. Church when but a boy but when he came here being no church of that denomination, he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and has been an elder for a number of years. It was a great privation for him to be unable to attend services and he occasionally told his wife, in a joking way, while lying in bed, that they had better get ready and go to church. He has been a prominent member of the Masonic order since the age of 21 and helped organize nearly every lodge around this place. Laid to rest in the family graveyard at Huntingdale.