Cosgroves 2^nd & 3^rd generations--Grandpa Jack's family

John T., the Bishop Henry's younger brother born in 1853, was our great-grandfather.  John T. was born in Dubuque, where his family lived until after his own father died. John must have been the youngest, as the Bishop was nineteen years older than he. John married Mary Anne (Walsh), 1858-1922, and was the father of our Grandfather, John Aloysius Cosgrove.

          Mary Ann Walsh was born in Grand Rapids, MI in 1858.  John T. died at age 67, three weeks after the amputation of a limb. His obituary states he "had been ill for five years" and "succumbed to a lingering illness." He had been living in Davenport for 50 years; the family address was 635 E. Twelfth Street.  The newspaper reported that "a number of years ago, he had been proprietor of a grocery store," and "later was employed as a mechanic. Ill health forced him to retire from active life several years ago."  According to a cousin, Jack nor any of his brothers and sisters ever talked about their father. Mary Ann died two years later "after an extended illness, tho she was confined to her bed but one day." Her funeral was held at Tutti Logan's with services later that day at the Cathedral. She and John T. are buried at St. Marguerite's cemetery.

Our grandfather, Jack Cosgrove was second from the youngest; he had a younger brother and 3 older sisters and brother: May (the eldest), Henry, Theresa (Tutti), Joe (March 1,1887- April 21,1912) and Neoma (Nomi). Jack is shown at far right, Henry on left, Teresa, Tutti, Naomi and Mae in the middle.

          Brother Joe died at age 16, drowned in the Mississippi River under mysterious circumstances. "Young Man Who Met Death in the River" was one headline. A caption under the photo says "The body of Joseph Cosgrove was discovered at the foot of Farnum Street at 7:30 o'clock...by three fishermen. He had been in the river nearly two weeks. The following day's article headlined: Cosgrove's Body Found in River--Suicide Theory Proves to Be Founded. Funeral Is Held at Once." ..."The body of Joseph Cosgrove was found in the river Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock, confirming the fear that he had ended his life by jumping into the river. Three small boys who were fishing near the foot of Farnum Street made the discovery. They noticed something big floating in the river some distance from where they were fishing and investigation proved it to be the body of a man. By fastening a rope over the body, the boys were able to bring the body to shore and Halligan's undertaking parlors was notified". . The body was interred at St. Marguerite's, "Rev. M.M. O'Laughlin officiating.  It is thought that the passing of a steamer near the place where young Cosgrove leaped into the river on Tuesday night, April 21, stirred the river to such an extent that the body was loosened from its resting place and floated to the top. The body was found about 600 feet west of where he was supposed to have jumped into the river." The article goes on to say he had been educated in parochial schools, was "well-thought of", and was employed somewhere as a something--I can't

make out the copy. (This article was in the Democrat May 6, 1912.) Dad, Uncle John D. and Mary Ann all believe that Joe ran with a rough crowd and was killed.

          Grandpa "Jack" thought he had been born in 1891. When he went to apply for his Social Security, he discovered he was wrong; he had been born in April 15, 1893. Jack is shown at right below in 1919 while visiting his Aunt Tess in the Missouri Valley.

Ellie & Tessie Kennedy were cousins of Jack Cosgrove's mother Mary Walsh. They had a brother, John. When her parents both died, she came to Davenport & went to ICA, and the Kennedys were her guardians. Mrs. Kennedy was a sister of Mary's mother. Ellie, Tessie, nor their brother John ever married; they lived together in a house on High Street. Late in her life Ellie lived with Jack and Kathleen on Dover Court. Sheila has "fond" memories of sharing her room with Aunt Ellie.

Photo of Cosgroves taken in front yard of 918 Denison in Davenport between 1930 and 32.

Back row: Jack Cosgrove, Ellie Kennedy, Tutie Logan, Tessie Kennedy, Mae Nill, Henry Cosgrove, Jeannie Brondell (a baby), Naoma Brondell (called Nomi), Millie Cosgrove, George Nill

Middle row: Virginia Brondell, Florence Nill, Genevieve Cosgrove, Kenny Logan, Mary Clare Nill, Kathleen Cosgrove, Jack Logan

Second row: Jack Nill (kneeling), Dick Nill, Tom Cosgrove (Kathleen holding)

Front row sitting: Jim Cosgrove, John Cosgrove, Dick Cosgrove

Current Cosgroves: Kathleen & Jack's Family

Kathleen Doyle (1895 - 1966) m. John Aloysius Cosgrove (1893 - 1966) in 1920. They, of course, had four children: James Edward (b. 12/27, 1921 - d. July 4, 1996), John Doyle (b. 10/16, 1923), Thomas Joseph (9/21/1927-1981), and Sheila Ann. (b. 3/25/1935).

Jim (Cosgrove) remembers:

            Grandma taught Jack to drive on a 1928 Chevrolet 4 door  sedan. It was their first family car and had no heater. After that they had a '33 then a '38 Chevy.

            One summer Jack and Kathleen won a trip to French Lick (an Indiana resort) and John and Jim stayed with Grandma Doyle. She took them one day to the Palmer School (which is what we've always called Palmer College of Chiropractic; she rented to Palmer students). Palmer had, and still does, a garden with little Asian statues. A little guy with a Vandyke beard--old--came out and took them through the "Little Bit of Heaven" and bought them an ice cream cone, which at the time cost a dime. It was B.J. Palmer.

Sheila Cosgrove Kautz remembers:

            My earliest recollections are of when we lived on Dover Court near Vanderveer Park. Mom & Dad frequently went to the Elks Club and my brother Tom age 15 or 16 babysat with me and was always changing the time on the clocks so he could get me to bed earlier. A cute girl lived next door and he'd sneak over there and keep her company when she babysat her younger brother. I remember several times that he hid in the bushes and scratched the window. Then she'd call him to come over and keep her company. Sometimes he'd bring me over and put me on the living room couch to read, and they'd go to the kitchen, play music on the radio and dance.

            I spent many days at Mary Carroll's and her sister Winnie's across the street playing with their cats as I couldn't have pets because of Mom's asthma.

            Holidays were special--the Darrell Doyles, Gallaghers, Larry & Esther (from Chicago), and Clinton Doyles all got together for big dinners at Gallaghers' at 7th and Iowa. (They lived downstairs in an apartment.) All the aunts had their chores--Esther was in charge of peas, Dolores was mashed potatoes, and Kathleen, gravy. My dad, Jack, always carved the bird! At Thanksgiving, we always had turkey notes and the grandchildren made these and we all had some good laughs--I still remember Dolores's favorite: "Turkey neck, turkey heart, was it you who let the fart?"

Pat Doyle remembers:

It seems we made regular visits to the Cosgroves on Dover Court for conversations or cards for the grownups while we rummaged upstairs in Tommy's room, reviewing his comic book collection or playing tag in their backyard. I remember Uncle Jack, usually in his undershirt, (barefooted during the hot fall Sunday afternoons), listening to the Bears games on the radio. There was usually a lot of laughing (at what?), amid whatever gossip came to mind when we bothered to listen. I don't know of any other families who enjoyed humor so much as those micks. Dolores and Agnita always had a new joke to share while the menfolk sprinkled their reminiscences with jests or salty language for amusing effect. Jack, Gallagher and Larry were all salesmen who collected anecdotes to share with customers and family alike.

Julie Gallagher Kraman remembers:

            Although I can remember Kathleen, Jack, Tom and Sheila living on Dover Court near Brady Street in Davenport, your Dad and John may have been grown up and on their own by that time.  I know that Jim was my godfather.  I don't recall much about him and your Mom until the time when you and Jimmy were small and your family was living in downtown Davenport.  The next thing I recall is while I was at Marycrest, and Sheila and Barry were engaged.   I remember that your Mom was at a bridal shower that Naomi gave for Sheila.  Also, I know that Mike and I are godparents to one of your brothers, but not sure which one, perhaps Christopher.  I'll have to ask Mike if he remembers.

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