COSGROVE, Thomas

COSGROVE, ROBINSON, MCANDREWS, BURK, NASH, GRADY

Posted By: Annette Lucas (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 08:16:45

SOURCE: Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, Iowa; W. S. Dunbar & Co., Publishers, 1889

THOMAS COSGROVE, a farmer and stock-raiser of Washington Township, has been identified with the interests of Shelby County, Iowa, since 1875. He was born in the County Mayo, half baronet of Erris, Ireland, July 25, 1828, and is the son of James and Mary (Robinson) Cosgrove. They were the parents of ten children, all deceased except Thomas. In 1847 he left Ireland and went over to England, remaining there until 1849, when he went to the Isle of Wight. There he remained until 1851, when he crossed the sea in the service of the British army, under Colonel Lochair. He was stationed at Halifax, and in 1852 he went to Boston and entered the United States service in Company G, Third Artillery, commanded by Major Robert Anderson, at Fort Sumter. On account of disability he was discharged July 19, 1863. From Boston he went to St. Louis the same year, and worked at his trade in a foundry for three and a half years. For several years after that he was engaged in running a stationary engine. He left St. Louis in 1863 because he did not wish to join the Southern army, and came to Clinton County, Iowa, engaging in farming and keeping a grocery store. In 1875 he came to Shelby County, as before stated. His first investment in the county was in eighty acres of wild land. He owns at the present day 240 acres, all under cultivation. He carries on general farming, and devotes some time to raising special grades of live-stock. Politically Mr. Cosgrove casts his vote with the Republicans. He has served his township as road supervisor and as school director. He was married in 1856 to Miss Mary W. McAndrews, daughter of Antony and Mary (Burk) McAndrews. The wedding occurred in St. Louis. Mrs. Cosgrove was born in Ireland in 1834. They have had born to them eleven children; two of them died in St. Louis when children, and were buried there. James, a promising young man, died in Shelby County, Iowa, at the age of twenty-nine years. Those living are — Sarah, wife of Michael McAndrews; Margaret, Rosa, wife of Michael Nash; Mary, wife of Patrick Grady; Bridget, Antony, Dominick and Catherine.