Mrs. Cornwell, Nearly 100, Dies After Long Illness

Mrs. Cornwell, Nearly 100, Dies After Long Illness
YPSILANTI – Mrs. Jennie Quirk Cornwell, 99, the aunt of Mrs. G. Mennen Williams, the governor’s wife, died today at her home at 209 N. Huron St. following a lengthy illness. She would have been 100 had she lived until Thursday, the day funeral services will be held.
Mrs. Cornwell, the oldest Eastern Michigan University alumna, was born Dec. 3, 1859, in Chicago, a daughter of Daniel L. Quirk, sr., and Priscilla Frane Quirk, settling in Ypsilanti in 1860.
Her father organized the First National Bank and served as president of that financial institution for many years. He also was one of the founders of the Peninsular Paper Co. of Ypsilanti. Mrs. Cornwell was a senior member of the prominent Quirk family here which is active in business, industrial and community affairs.
House Now City Hall
Upon the death of her mother in 1917, Mrs. Cornwell, two sisters and a brother gave the Quirk family residence to the city of Ypsilanti. That building at 304 N. Huron St. is now the City Hall.
Mrs. Cornwell had been partially bedridden since March, 1954, when she fractured a hip in a fall at her home.
Prior to the accident, she had been active in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church as a choir mother, and had served the community in a variety of social service activities.
She was married in 1911 to Edward Cornwell who died in 1948. The couple had no children.
Mrs. Cornwell was graduated from EMU in 1876, when the college was a preparatory school. She was EMU’s oldest alumna until her death.
Survivors Named
Besides Mrs. Williams, survivors include a number of nieces and nephews, A. Buel Quirk and Daniel T. Quirk, both of Ypsilanti, Mrs. W. Brace Krag of Grosse Pointe and Miss Bessie Younglove and Roy Younglove, both of Pasadena, Calif.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Mrs. Cornwell’s N. Huron St. home, with the Rev. Sidney S. Rood officiating.
Friends may call at the Geer Funeral Home beginning this evening through 11 a.m. Thursday, when the body will lie in state at the 209 N. Huron address until the time of the service. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.