Born: April 10, 1847 Died: March 28, 1909 Biography: Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove was born April 10, 1847 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. His father disowned him when Samuel attended school. Samuel later enlisted in Ohio's volunteer infantry at the age of 16 years old. After the Civil War was over, Cosgrove worked his way through law school and graduated from Wesleyan University in 1873. In 1878 he married Zephorina Edgerton, a student in his class. They moved to Nevada in 1880, and then on to California before settling in the Washington Territory in 1882. He became the Mayor of Pomeroy, Washington, and served as President of the school board for 8 years. Samuel Cosgrove was the first Governor elected under the Direct Primary Law. In November of 1908 he was elected Governor. He suffered a heart attack, and was inaugurated on January 27, 1909. His health was so bad, that after his acceptance speech, he asked for a leave of absence to get well. He went to California, never to return to Washington. He died March 28, 1909 in California from Bright's disease. (Bright's disease was a catch-all for kidney diseases)