After an illness which began in November last, Robert L. Cornwell, ex-Chief of Police and one of the most widely known officers in the Southwest, died at St. Paul's Sanitarium at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon. On account of ill health, Mr. Cornwell resigned as Chief of the police department at the close of the State Fair last fall. After that he did not often come down town.
Robert Lee Cornwell, who was born in Dallas, Jan. 1, 1868, was a son of Daniel E. and Sarah Cornwell, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, who came to Dallas back in the '60s. He come of a family of officers. He became a member of the police force in June of 1892, and with the exception of about a year, during which he was a deputy under Henry Jacoby, Constable of Precinct 1, he was continuously connected with the department until last fall. He served several years as a patrolman. Then he was on mounted duty for some time. From that he transferred to the detective department.
On account of his aptitude for the work and of conspicuous service, he was promoted to be lieutenant of detectives. In this capacity he was successful in a large number of important cases. On the occasion of the visit of President Roosevelt, he was complimented by Chief Wilkie of the Secret Service Department and by the President for the skill with which he handled the crowds.
In May 1909, he was selected by the city commissioners to be chief of the police department, a position for which his long experience as an officer and his native ability as an organizer peculiarly fitted him. It was with regret that the members of the force received the announcement of his intention to resign last fall.
Mr. Cornwell is survived by his widow, a son Jack aged 18 years, and the following brothers and sisters: Edward G. Cornwell and John Cornwell of Dallas, James Cornwell of Hot Springs, Mrs. R. R. Nelms and Mrs. Charles Potter of Dallas.
The funeral party will leave the residence, 217 Texas street at 10 a.m. Friday and proceed to the Cathedral of the Sacred Hear, where mass will be said by Rev. Father O'Connor. The burial will be in the family lot in Calvary Cemetery.
The active pallbearers selected by the Knights of Columbus, will be Dan F. Sullivan, T. F. Loughlin, Thomas F. King, M. Coerver, E. J. Riley, J. A. McAleer. The honorary: Mayor S. J. Hay, City Commissioners William Doran, C. B. Gillespie, and Harry L. Seay; Chief John Ryan of the police department; Lieut. Henry Tanner of the detective department, and Charles H. Deming, night station keeper.
A special meeting of the members of Dallas Lodge, No. 799, Knights of Columbus has been called for tonight. It is to be held in the lodge rooms over 281 Main street. At that time preparations will be made to attend the funeral of Robert L. Cornwell, a member of the brotherhood.
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Death Certificate of Robert C. L. Cornwell, Dallas, Dallas Co, TX, 14 Feb. 1910, as found at www.footnote.com.
State of Texas
Department of Public Health Return of a Death
Name, in Full: Robert C. L. Cornwell
white
male
married
Date of death: 2/16/1910
Date of birth: 1/1/1868
Age: 42 yrs, 1 month, 16 days
Occupation: Ex. chief police, Dallas, TX
Late residence: 4626
Place of death, No. 217 Texas Street
Place of birth: Dallas, Texas
Name of Father, Daniel E. Cornwell
Name of Mother: Sarah Cornwell
Birthplace of father: Ky.
Birthplace of mother: Ky.
Blace of burial: Calvary Cemetery
Date of burial: 2/18/1910
Undertaker, Geo. W. Loudermilk
I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Feb. 14, 1910 to Feb. 16, 1910, and that to the best of my knowledge and belief cause of death was as hereinunder written:
Chief Cause: acute gastritis
Duration: 3 days
Date of Certificate: Feb. 18, 1910
W. W. Tanner
Robert Lee Cornwell, who was born in Dallas, Jan. 1, 1868, was a son of Daniel E. and Sarah Cornwell, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, who came to Dallas back in the '60s. He come of a family of officers. He became a member of the police force in June of 1892, and with the exception of about a year, during which he was a deputy under Henry Jacoby, Constable of Precinct 1, he was continuously connected with the department until last fall. He served several years as a patrolman. Then he was on mounted duty for some time. From that he transferred to the detective department.
On account of his aptitude for the work and of conspicuous service, he was promoted to be lieutenant of detectives. In this capacity he was successful in a large number of important cases. On the occasion of the visit of President Roosevelt, he was complimented by Chief Wilkie of the Secret Service Department and by the President for the skill with which he handled the crowds.
In May 1909, he was selected by the city commissioners to be chief of the police department, a position for which his long experience as an officer and his native ability as an organizer peculiarly fitted him. It was with regret that the members of the force received the announcement of his intention to resign last fall.
Mr. Cornwell is survived by his widow, a son Jack aged 18 years, and the following brothers and sisters: Edward G. Cornwell and John Cornwell of Dallas, James Cornwell of Hot Springs, Mrs. R. R. Nelms and Mrs. Charles Potter of Dallas.
The funeral party will leave the residence, 217 Texas street at 10 a.m. Friday and proceed to the Cathedral of the Sacred Hear, where mass will be said by Rev. Father O'Connor. The burial will be in the family lot in Calvary Cemetery.
The active pallbearers selected by the Knights of Columbus, will be Dan F. Sullivan, T. F. Loughlin, Thomas F. King, M. Coerver, E. J. Riley, J. A. McAleer. The honorary: Mayor S. J. Hay, City Commissioners William Doran, C. B. Gillespie, and Harry L. Seay; Chief John Ryan of the police department; Lieut. Henry Tanner of the detective department, and Charles H. Deming, night station keeper.
A special meeting of the members of Dallas Lodge, No. 799, Knights of Columbus has been called for tonight. It is to be held in the lodge rooms over 281 Main street. At that time preparations will be made to attend the funeral of Robert L. Cornwell, a member of the brotherhood.
-----
Death Certificate of Robert C. L. Cornwell, Dallas, Dallas Co, TX, 14 Feb. 1910, as found at www.footnote.com.
State of Texas
Department of Public Health Return of a Death
Name, in Full: Robert C. L. Cornwell
white
male
married
Date of death: 2/16/1910
Date of birth: 1/1/1868
Age: 42 yrs, 1 month, 16 days
Occupation: Ex. chief police, Dallas, TX
Late residence: 4626
Place of death, No. 217 Texas Street
Place of birth: Dallas, Texas
Name of Father, Daniel E. Cornwell
Name of Mother: Sarah Cornwell
Birthplace of father: Ky.
Birthplace of mother: Ky.
Blace of burial: Calvary Cemetery
Date of burial: 2/18/1910
Undertaker, Geo. W. Loudermilk
I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Feb. 14, 1910 to Feb. 16, 1910, and that to the best of my knowledge and belief cause of death was as hereinunder written:
Chief Cause: acute gastritis
Duration: 3 days
Date of Certificate: Feb. 18, 1910
W. W. Tanner
After an illness which began in November last, Robert L. Cornwell, ex-Chief of Police and one of the most widely known officers in the Southwest, died at St. Paul's Sanitarium at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon. On account of ill health, Mr. Cornwell resigned as Chief of the police department at the close of the State Fair last fall. After that he did not often come down town.
Robert Lee Cornwell, who was born in Dallas, Jan. 1, 1868, was a son of Daniel E. and Sarah Cornwell, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, who came to Dallas back in the '60s. He come of a family of officers. He became a member of the police force in June of 1892, and with the exception of about a year, during which he was a deputy under Henry Jacoby, Constable of Precinct 1, he was continuously connected with the department until last fall. He served several years as a patrolman. Then he was on mounted duty for some time. From that he transferred to the detective department.
On account of his aptitude for the work and of conspicuous service, he was promoted to be lieutenant of detectives. In this capacity he was successful in a large number of important cases. On the occasion of the visit of President Roosevelt, he was complimented by Chief Wilkie of the Secret Service Department and by the President for the skill with which he handled the crowds.
In May 1909, he was selected by the city commissioners to be chief of the police department, a position for which his long experience as an officer and his native ability as an organizer peculiarly fitted him. It was with regret that the members of the force received the announcement of his intention to resign last fall.
Mr. Cornwell is survived by his widow, a son Jack aged 18 years, and the following brothers and sisters: Edward G. Cornwell and John Cornwell of Dallas, James Cornwell of Hot Springs, Mrs. R. R. Nelms and Mrs. Charles Potter of Dallas.
The funeral party will leave the residence, 217 Texas street at 10 a.m. Friday and proceed to the Cathedral of the Sacred Hear, where mass will be said by Rev. Father O'Connor. The burial will be in the family lot in Calvary Cemetery.
The active pallbearers selected by the Knights of Columbus, will be Dan F. Sullivan, T. F. Loughlin, Thomas F. King, M. Coerver, E. J. Riley, J. A. McAleer. The honorary: Mayor S. J. Hay, City Commissioners William Doran, C. B. Gillespie, and Harry L. Seay; Chief John Ryan of the police department; Lieut. Henry Tanner of the detective department, and Charles H. Deming, night station keeper.
A special meeting of the members of Dallas Lodge, No. 799, Knights of Columbus has been called for tonight. It is to be held in the lodge rooms over 281 Main street. At that time preparations will be made to attend the funeral of Robert L. Cornwell, a member of the brotherhood.
-----
Death Certificate of Robert C. L. Cornwell, Dallas, Dallas Co, TX, 14 Feb. 1910, as found at www.footnote.com.
State of Texas
Department of Public Health Return of a Death
Name, in Full: Robert C. L. Cornwell
white
male
married
Date of death: 2/16/1910
Date of birth: 1/1/1868
Age: 42 yrs, 1 month, 16 days
Occupation: Ex. chief police, Dallas, TX
Late residence: 4626
Place of death, No. 217 Texas Street
Place of birth: Dallas, Texas
Name of Father, Daniel E. Cornwell
Name of Mother: Sarah Cornwell
Birthplace of father: Ky.
Birthplace of mother: Ky.
Blace of burial: Calvary Cemetery
Date of burial: 2/18/1910
Undertaker, Geo. W. Loudermilk
I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Feb. 14, 1910 to Feb. 16, 1910, and that to the best of my knowledge and belief cause of death was as hereinunder written:
Chief Cause: acute gastritis
Duration: 3 days
Date of Certificate: Feb. 18, 1910
W. W. Tanner
Robert Lee Cornwell, who was born in Dallas, Jan. 1, 1868, was a son of Daniel E. and Sarah Cornwell, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, who came to Dallas back in the '60s. He come of a family of officers. He became a member of the police force in June of 1892, and with the exception of about a year, during which he was a deputy under Henry Jacoby, Constable of Precinct 1, he was continuously connected with the department until last fall. He served several years as a patrolman. Then he was on mounted duty for some time. From that he transferred to the detective department.
On account of his aptitude for the work and of conspicuous service, he was promoted to be lieutenant of detectives. In this capacity he was successful in a large number of important cases. On the occasion of the visit of President Roosevelt, he was complimented by Chief Wilkie of the Secret Service Department and by the President for the skill with which he handled the crowds.
In May 1909, he was selected by the city commissioners to be chief of the police department, a position for which his long experience as an officer and his native ability as an organizer peculiarly fitted him. It was with regret that the members of the force received the announcement of his intention to resign last fall.
Mr. Cornwell is survived by his widow, a son Jack aged 18 years, and the following brothers and sisters: Edward G. Cornwell and John Cornwell of Dallas, James Cornwell of Hot Springs, Mrs. R. R. Nelms and Mrs. Charles Potter of Dallas.
The funeral party will leave the residence, 217 Texas street at 10 a.m. Friday and proceed to the Cathedral of the Sacred Hear, where mass will be said by Rev. Father O'Connor. The burial will be in the family lot in Calvary Cemetery.
The active pallbearers selected by the Knights of Columbus, will be Dan F. Sullivan, T. F. Loughlin, Thomas F. King, M. Coerver, E. J. Riley, J. A. McAleer. The honorary: Mayor S. J. Hay, City Commissioners William Doran, C. B. Gillespie, and Harry L. Seay; Chief John Ryan of the police department; Lieut. Henry Tanner of the detective department, and Charles H. Deming, night station keeper.
A special meeting of the members of Dallas Lodge, No. 799, Knights of Columbus has been called for tonight. It is to be held in the lodge rooms over 281 Main street. At that time preparations will be made to attend the funeral of Robert L. Cornwell, a member of the brotherhood.
-----
Death Certificate of Robert C. L. Cornwell, Dallas, Dallas Co, TX, 14 Feb. 1910, as found at www.footnote.com.
State of Texas
Department of Public Health Return of a Death
Name, in Full: Robert C. L. Cornwell
white
male
married
Date of death: 2/16/1910
Date of birth: 1/1/1868
Age: 42 yrs, 1 month, 16 days
Occupation: Ex. chief police, Dallas, TX
Late residence: 4626
Place of death, No. 217 Texas Street
Place of birth: Dallas, Texas
Name of Father, Daniel E. Cornwell
Name of Mother: Sarah Cornwell
Birthplace of father: Ky.
Birthplace of mother: Ky.
Blace of burial: Calvary Cemetery
Date of burial: 2/18/1910
Undertaker, Geo. W. Loudermilk
I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Feb. 14, 1910 to Feb. 16, 1910, and that to the best of my knowledge and belief cause of death was as hereinunder written:
Chief Cause: acute gastritis
Duration: 3 days
Date of Certificate: Feb. 18, 1910
W. W. Tanner
Inscription
He shares marker with Mary J Collins (1828-1906); his info is on the east face of the marker; hers is on the north face.
Family Members
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