When Bishop McMullen began his labors in Davenport he had selected St. Marguerite’s as the Cathedral Church, and Rev. Henry Cosgrove, D. D., pastor of that church, as vicar-general of the diocese. Becoming thus the bishop’s chief executive in looking after the affairs of the diocese, a large measure of responsibility for its welfare devolved at once upon Father Cosgrove. He had a more extensive acquaintance throughout the diocese than any other priest, and a more intimate knowledge than any of them of the condition of the various parishes, of the opportunities for church extension and of the educational and charitable work to be looked after.
In his capacity as vicar-general he was called upon, when Bishop McMullen was stricken with the illness which ended his life, to take charge in great measure of diocesan affairs, and while the good bishop, up to the last hour of his life, never lost interest in these affairs, it was Father Cosgrove who received his plans. Brought thus into a most intimate relationship to the diocese as a whole, and having demonstrated his fitness for the high office of a bishop of the Church, by actual performance of many of the duties incident thereto, it was natural that there should have been on the part of the clergy of the diocese a desire that the Rev. Dr. Cosgrove should become successor to Bishop McMullen. A petition to this effect, signed by nearly all the priests of the diocese, was sent to Rome, this being, it is said, the first instance in the history of the Church in the United States in which the priests of a diocese petitioned for the appointment of one of their number as bishop. It received the favorable consideration of the Cabinet of Cardinals and Father Cosgrove became second bishop of Davenport.
A native of the United States, Bishop Cosgrove was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1934. His father, John Cosgrove, was a native of Ireland, who immigrated to this country with his young wife and settled in Pennsylvania in 1830. In 1845 they family removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and it was here that Bishop Henry Cosgrove received his early education. As a boy he was one of the acolytes in the old Cathedral of Dubuque, when Bishop Loras was at the head of the diocese, and his early inclinations were toward the priesthood. When he was fifteen years of age he began the course of study which was to fit him holy orders under the tutelage of Rev. Joseph Creton, then vicar-general of the diocese of St. Paul. After the course of study with Father Creton, he went to St. Mary’s Seminary in Missouri, where he completed a three years’ classical course and then entered the noted seminary at Carondelet, Missouri, where he took a full course in theology. Returning to Dubuque when he had completed his studies, he was ordained priest by Bishop Smyth, condijutor of Bishop Loras, on the twenty-seventh of August, 1857, and a few days later he became assistant pastor of St. Marguerite’s Church in Davenport. Rev. A. Trevis, who at that time held the pastorate of St. Marguerite’s, resigned for a long absence in Europe, an at the end of a few years Father Cosgrove succeeded to the full pastorate, which he held up to the time of his appointment a bishop. During the twenty-five years of his pastoral connection with this church, he shrank from no responsibility, neglected no duty, and overlooked no opportunity to advance the cause to which he had consecrated himself. The Church and its schools flourished, large and handsome buildings were erected for their accommondation under his supervision and in many ways the pastor of St. Marguerite’s demonstrated that he was a man of superior executive ability, as well as an able preacher. His relations with the non-Catholics and Protestants alike. When his commission as bishop had been received and duly presented to Archbishop Kendrick of St. Louis, Bishop Cosgrove returned to his home to be greeted by churchmen of his own faith, city officials of Davenport, representatives of various social and business organizations and the public generally, with an enthusiasm which evidenced a remarkable attachment to him in the city with which he had been identified for a quarter of a century. The solemn and impressive ceremony of consecration took place in St. Marguerite’s Cathedral on the fourteenth of September, 1884, and clothed with the full powers of bishop, Rev. Dr. Cosgrove went forth to carry forward the work of which he had in reality had change for many months previous to that time. His faithful and efficient labors during his administration are evidenced by the fact that the membership of the Catholic Church in this diocese has increased from forty thousand to fifty-six thousand. The number of priests has increased from seventy-nine to one hundred ad eight, and the number of churches from one hundred and twenty-one to one hundred and sixty. He has confirmed in allover sixteen thousand persons, and to his energy and resourcefulness the diocese is indebted for some of the handsomest church Edifices to be found in the West. As a clergyman of the Catholic faith he is greatly beloved by his priests and people, and as a man, broad-mined and liberal in his ideas, courteous in his intercourse with those who entertain beliefs different from his own, and a potent factor in elevating the moral standard of a large community, he is held in high esteem by all classes of people.
BIOGRAPHIES