Portrait and Biographical Record, Pages 465, 466

AUGUST M. COSGROVE, the efficient Superintendent of the Grand Haven water works, was born in Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio, February 15, 1855. He is a son of Stephen C. and Hannah (Hiler) Cosgrove, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey and the latter of New York. Stephen C. Cosgrove was a broom-maker by trade, but during the latter part of his life successfully followed the occupation of farming. On the 17^th of February, 1877, he died in Crawford County, Ohio, when in the seventy-first year of his age. His widow survived him until September, 1891, when she passed away in Crawford County, Ohio. The paternal grandfather was William Cosgrove.

August M. Cosgrove spent his early life on the home farm in Ohio, where he received such instruction as the locality afforded, entering school at the age of six years. A knowledge of books, however, is not always an education, and in the school of experience one may acquire a much more practical knowledge than he can in the colleges and seminaries, however good the latter may be; and thus it was with Mr. Cosgrove, for all his practical acquirements have been gained since he started out to fight the battle of life for himself. He secured employment in the steam-engine works at Bucyrus, Ohio, but in 1878 left that place to remove to Adrian, Mich. While employed in the Adrian water works, he acquired a knowledge of the details of the business which eminently fitted him for the successful discharge of the duties of his present position. After residing in Adrian for eight years, he went to Richmond, and was in the employ of a prominent firm there for about one year.

In the fall of 1885, our subject came to Grand Haven, and was appointed Superintendent of the Grand Haven water works, which position he is very acceptably filling at the present time. As a citizen, he is prompt and liberal in responding to the demands of the public, when the common good is brought into question, and he is at all times willing to bear his proportion of the burdens of expenditure and labor needed in attaining the highest material success. He is now in the prime of life, with vigorous constitution, good habits and lofty principles.

November 28, 1878, Mr. Cosgrove was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Smith, of Jasper, Mich., daughter of Frank J. Smith, and to their union two children have been given, a son and a daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Cosgrove are popular in the social circles of Grand Haven, and although they have not resided in the place any great length of time, they have made many friends, whom it is their pleasure to welcome to the comfortable and hospitable home on Franklin Street. Socially, Mr. Cosgrove is a member of the order of the Maccabees.