William F. Quirk was born at Ludington, Mich., February 12, 1882. He attended the public schools of that city until he was 15 years of age, when he went to Assumption College, at Sandwuch, Ontario, graduating from that institution in 1902. Following that date he was bookkeeper for a hardware firm at Pelston, Mich., where he remained until January, 1904, when he came to Big Rap]ids and in company with his brother-in-law, L.F. Bertrau, purchased the hardware stock of Edgar Pierce, the firm becoming Bertrau & Quirk. Mr. Quirk retired from the firm last June and in the following month purchased the leading furniture store of the town on Michigan avenue, from C.J. Milor. This stock was a large and varied one, of high grade goods - sideboards, bedroom, parlor and dining room suites, upholstered goods, etc., with carpets, rugs, matting, curtains, etc., in connection.
Mr. Quirk was married October 31, 1905, to Miss Helen Wessel, of this city, daughter of Prof. C.A. Wessel, - who was for many years a member of the faculty of the Ferris Institute, and now of the Lansing Business University.
