Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove is Born

Today in Masonic History Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove is born in 1847.

Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove was an American Politician

Cosgrove was born on April 10, 1847 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, to a scholarly family. He was the sixth of twelve children, most of whom became teachers. He attended public school. In 1863 at the age of sixteen he ran away from home because his father would not give him permission to join the Union forces. He was in the 14th Ohio Infantry Regiment serving until the conflict ended in 1865. He returned home but was kicked out of the house because he told his father he did not want to become a farmer. Instead he attended and graduated from Wesleyan University of Ohio in 1873. He then became a high school principal in Cleveland and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1875.

In 1880 he moved to Nevada to try his hand at mining, having little or no success, he then moved to California. Finding no more success there, he moved to Pomeroy, Washington in 1882. There he practiced law and also managed 1400 acres of farmland in Washington and Idaho. His political career started as president of the Pomeroy School Board for eight years and served five terms as the city’s mayor.

Cosgrove served on the Washington State Constitutional Convention in early 1889, was a presidential elector in 1900 and 1904 and declined a seat on the state supreme count in 1904. Early in 1907 the Washington Legislature established the direct primary system. He won the Republican primary, then the November 3rd general election receiving more than 62% of the votes. However the campaign had taxed him greatly. He was suffering from Bright’s disease, now described as acute chronic nephritis. The next day it was announced he was going to Paso Robles, California to take advantage of the area’s mineral hot springs and their health benefits. He returned to Olympia in early January 1909 and briefly met with legislators and with the help of his Lieutenant Governor Marion Hay of Tuscan Lodge No. 81 put together his cabinet. On January 27th he rode to the Capitol in an automobile, he was perhaps the first governor to travel to his inauguration in a car.

The Washington State Senate Journal for January 27, 1909 writes on motion of Senator Cotterill, the Senate adjourned at 3 o’clock to the house chamber "For the purpose of witnessing the inauguration of Samuel G. Cosgrove as Governor of the State of Washington." It is described that Cosgrove entered the joint session with Governor Mead (Bellingham Bay Lodge No. 44), and escorted by a committee. It is said he was carried into the capitol building on a stretcher to take the oath. The Journal continues, "On being introduced by Lieutenant Governor Hay, Governor Cosgrove, pale and emaciated, made a brief address that sorely taxed the small remnant of his strength." Cosgrove ended his speech by asking a special favor that he be granted a Leave of Absence to go in search of health so he could come back "to be governor in deed and truth." A formal letter requesting his leave of absence can be found in the Washington Secretary of State Archives in Cheney, Washington.

Called the "One Day Governor" after his request for a leave of absence was granted, he returned to Paso Robles where he died March 28, 1909. "Death came so suddenly that there were no time for leave taking words. . . Gov. Cosgrove lapsed into unconsciousness and the flame of life flickered out almost instantly" wrote the Seattle-Post Intelligencer. His remains were returned to Olympia where he was buried in the Masonic Cemetery.

He affiliated November 27, 1883 with Evening Star Lodge #30 {Pomeroy, Washington, but Grand Lodge records do not indicate from what lodge nor when he was raised. He demitted February 19, 1887. He was also an Elk and in the late 19th century, and early 20th century served as Grand Master of the Washington State Odd Fellows.

In 1901, as Odd Fellows Grand Master he appointed Lewis Hart, Past Master of Fern Hill Lodge No. 80 to be Grand Secretary. Hart was elected lieutenant governor in 1914 but succeed to the governor’s office in 1919 on the death of Governor/brother Ernest Lister.

This article provided by Brother Coe Tug Morgan – Honorary Grand Secretary, Past Grand Historian Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of Washington.