William A. Quayle, 1860-1925

QUAYLE, DAVIS

Posted By: Volunteer-Betty Hootman
Date: 4/23/2012 at 10:38:06

WM. A. QUAYLE, M. E. BISHOP, PASSES AWAY
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Prominent Church Figure Succumbs After Illness of Several Years
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HEART DISEASE HASTENS THE END

Baldwin, Kans., March 10 --- Bishop William A. Quayle, author, lecturer, educator and for more than a quarter century one of the outstanding figures of the Methodist Episcopal church, died at his home near here late yesterday. Bishop Quayle had been in ill health for several years. He was 64 years old. Death came following a sudden heart attack.

An outspoken Republican, an active and keen political observer, and a renowned orator. Bishop Quayle had held pastorates in Kansas City, Indianapolis and Chicago before his elevation to the bishoprie in 1908.

He was born June 25, 1860 in Clay county, Mo. And at the age of four months was taken to the then Territory of Kansas by his parents. He studied in the preparatory department of Baker university, at Baldwin, Kansas and later in the collegiate, where upon his graduation, he was made professor of languages and vice-president of the institution. At the age of 30 he became president in St. Paul until 1916, when he was resigning to enter the ministry.

He was pastor of the St. James church, Chicago, when called to fill one of the highest offices in the Methodist church. His Episcopal residence was in St. Paul until 1916, when he removed to St. Louis.

GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR

The lectures of Bishop Quayle were not of the chautaqua variety, although he sometimes spoke from chautaqua platforms. From life-long study---it is said he read a book a day while in college---he had an unlimited repertoire of addresses and humorous punctuations frequently were resorted to.

Speaking once of the sharp political feeling in Missouri after the Civil war, the people of Clay county were going to hang his father because he voted for Lincoln. “But my father refused to stay for the hanging.” he added. “He was very peculiar about such things.”
Again while delivering a panegyric at the funeral of Bishop Luccock, Bishop Quayle pictured his own death and the meeting thereafter with Bishop Luccock, whom he imagined as saying: “Well, Quayle, how did you get here? I am surprised.”

NOTED AUTHOR, TOO

The degree of Ph.D. was conferred upon Bishop Quayle in 1890 by Allegheny college, and that of D.D. by DePauw college the same year. Baker university honored him with the degree of LL.D. in 1900, and Lawrence college of Wisconsin, conferred the same degree in 1908.

Books written by Bishop Quayle include:

“The Poet’s Poet and Other Essays,” A Study in Current Social Theories,” “A Hero and Some Other Folks,” “Books and Life,” “In God’s Out-of-Doors,” “Eternity in the Heart,” “The Prairie and the Sea,” “Lowell and the Christian Faith.” “God’s Calendar,” “The Book of Ruth,” “The Song of Songs,” “The Pastor-Preacher,” “Laymen in Action,” “The Church of God,” “Poems,” “Beside Lake Beautiful,” “Recovered Yesterdays in Literature,” “The Dynamite of God,” and “The Throne of Grace.”

In 1886 Bishop Quayle married Miss Allie Hancock Davis of St. Louis

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Scrapbook A, pages 364 & 365, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA