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Thomas Skaggs (who issued Daylight’s Dispensation to form said that he was carried into the capitol building on a stretcher to
the Lodge) presided over his Masonic funeral services. The take the oath. The Journal continues, “On being introduced by
Lieutenant Governor Hay, Governor Cosgrove, pale and emaciated
1920 Grand Lodge Proceedings include a memorial to Brother made a brief address that sorely taxed the small remnant of his
Lister. strength. He ended his speech asking a special favor that he be
Lieutenant Governor Louis Hart, a Republican, assumed granted a Leave of Absence to go in search of health that he could
Lister’s vacant office. Hart was a Past Master of Fern Hill come back „to be governor in deed and truth.‟” A formal letter
requesting the leave of absence can be found in the Washington
Lodge No. 80 in Tacoma. Except for our first Governor Elisha Secretary of State Archives.
P. Ferry, he is the only other Governor who appears to have He served in the Ohio 14 Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War,
th
been a Lodge Master. He served as Grand Orator for joining at the age of 16, discharged honorably July 1865. Exactly
1918/1919. He gave his Grand Oration (quite long) on June where he attended public school is not listed. He was one of twelve
10, 1919 and four days later became Governor. siblings most of whom became teachers. He graduated from
Wesleyan University of Ohio in 1873, then taught and became a high
school principal in Woodsfield, Brooklyn and Cleveland. He read law
Masonic Background: Affiliated November 27, 1883 with under Hollister and Okey in Woodsfield, passing the bar in 1875. He
Evening Star Lodge #30 {Pomeroy}; our Grand Lodge records married Zephorena Edgerton in 1878 while in Cleveland, was father
do not indicate from what Lodge nor when he was raised. He to three children, Howard, Elliot and Myrn.
In 1880 he moved to Nevada to try his hand at mining, having little or
demitted February 19, 1887. no success, then to California. Finding no more success there he
moved to Pomeroy, Washington in 1882. He managed 1400 acres of
farmland in the locale plus was the local lawyer. A popular figure in
the community, he served eight years as President of the Pomeroy
School Board, he was elected mayor five times. He was a member of
the Washington State Constitutional Convention in 1889. He served
as a presidential elector in 1900 [William McKinley] and 1904
[Theodore Roosevelt]. In early 1900s he was offered a seat on the
State Supreme Court but refused the chance.
Samuel Good love Cosgrove – R[1909 – died in office] He was a serious but unsuccessful candidate for the gubernatorial
Governor just one day nomination at several State Republican Conventions. In 1908, a
newly adopted direct primary law put him in a good position to run for
Background: Cosgrove was born April 10, 1847 in Tuscarawas governor. He won the Republican primary election and was elected
County, Ohio. Why is he called ―The One Day Governor?‖ The Governor at the November 1908 election. Shortly after his election
Washington State Senate Journal for January 27, 1905 says that on he suffered a heart attack, went to Paso Robles, California for
motion of Senator Cotterill of Seattle, the Senate adjourned at 3 treatment and recovery. He returned just long enough to belatedly
o’clock to the house chamber “For the purpose of witnessing the take the oath of office. Called the “One Day Governor,” after his
inauguration of Samuel G. Cosgrove as Governor of the State of request for a leave of absence was granted, he returned to Paso
Washington.” It is described that Cosgrove entered the joint session Robles where he died March 28, 1909. His remains were returned to
with Brother/Governor Albert R. Mead escorted by a committee. It is Olympia to be buried in the Masonic Cemetery.

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