William Cosgrove

According to family lore, Constant Webb Hicks and Susannah Kelly had a farm near West Point, Illinois, known as Round Oak Farm. They raised short-horned cattle. Together, they raised William Cosgrove, born 1867 in New York. He was one of the orphans that came to the West Point train station in 1873. Anyone wanting a child had only to be on hand when the train arrived and choose the child. In this case, the child chose the parent. The boy ran up to Mr. Hicks and said, “You take me.” William was about 6-7 years old. He remained in the area and farmed until his death.

Constant and Susannah Hick had six children, of whom three lived to adulthood. The youngest three died separately in 1856: Theodore in February at age 9; C. W., in March at 8 months; and Margaret in September at 1 1/2 years old. By the time William jumped off the train in 1873, the Hicks were in their fifties and their remaining children grown. Constant died in 1878, and Susannah in 1897.

The Hicks family is listed in the 1918 Prairie Farmer Directory as continuing to farm and raise cattle. There is no entry listed for William Cosgrove, who may have been working as a laborer on the Hicks or another local farm.