A Republican, he was Schaghticoke's Town Supervisor from 1860 to 1862, also serving as Chairman of the Rensselaer County Board of Supervisors. Quackenbush was a member of the New York State Assembly (Rensselaer Co., 2nd D.) in 1863. From 1873 to 1876 Quackenbush was Sheriff of Rensselaer County.
