Cosgrave, George

George Cosgrave, born in Calaveras County, California, on February 20, 1870, was the son of Michael Cosgrave and Margaret Pyne. His father arrived in California in the early fifties and followed placer mining in the same region made famous by Mark Twain. George grew up with limited educational opportunities but successfully graduated from the San Jose Normal School in 1889. He initially devoted himself to teaching, helping to lay the foundation for popular education in the state while pursuing his true ambition. Through diligent study, he mastered the legal works necessary to be admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1895.

Following his entry into the legal profession, George established a strong presence in his community and expanded his civic involvement. He married Irene Copeland, the daughter of Isaac and Ellen G. Copeland, in Alameda on June 1, 1904, and the couple had one daughter named Margaret. George became an active Mason and served as the master of Fresno Lodge, No. 247, F. and A. M., in 1900. Aligning politically as a Republican in national affairs, he contributed to local governance by serving on the Fresno board of education following his appointment in 1897 and subsequent election in 1917.