Welcome to Gavigan.org

This site was created to facilitate the exchange of information and to help people with the last name Gavigan, and other names, learn more about their history, their roots, & who they are related to

The surname Gavigan”and its more common phonetic variant, Gavigan” is an Anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic name Mag Eachagain, meaning “son of Eachagan.” Originating in Ireland, particularly associated with counties like Roscommon and Westmeath, bearers of this historic name eventually crossed the Atlantic during the waves of Irish emigration in the 19th century, seeking new opportunities in the burgeoning American Midwest.

Our Journey begins with the John Gavigan family. The family supposedly immigrated from Ireland Around 1848. The spent some time in New York then by 1850 they were living in New Jersey. John Sr (age 60) sons Timothy H, John, Patrick, and William, and Daughters Mary Catherine, Marcella, Margaret, Jane were ALL born in Ireland. John Gavigan’s wife Margaret O’Brien died BEFORE they immigrated. By 1855 the Gavigans were in Wisconsin.

Anyone listed in the Genealogy pages NOT named Gavigan or McGilligan are related to a Gavigan or a McGilligan by a marriage or an adoption It’s a very Small World!

There are most likely many errors on this site. If you have corrections or additions use the contact form to let us know

Farm Tragedy

A tragic moment in Time regarding the Stevens family happened in 1936 on the farm of Harry and Jennie Stevens in the Skelton Township of Carlton County MN when Harry Eugene (Gene) Stevens accidentally drove over his brother

Distressing Suicide: Madison Woman Drowns Herself in a Well

Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Johanna Janeck, a German woman some 85 years old, wife of Mr. Gustav Janeck, for more than a dozen years employed in Mr. Darwin Clark’s Cabinet and Furniture establishment, and for some time foreman of the shop, went to visit Mrs. Lang, who lives in the first ward, about a block south of Nolden’s Hall, near the edge of the flat north of the depot.

5 Gavigan’s go off to War

California 1982

Spring of 1982 a plan was hatched at Rusty’s Bar in Middleton WI over 20 cent taps by Tim Gavigan and Rick Smith. They decided to drive to California in a van to Visit a hockey mate, Chris Eddy.

Alcohol Issues

We are Irish, what else can we say? Over the years many have fallen into the Alcohol pit. Some crawled their way out, some did not.

First Flanders Woman in America

There are many mysteries to be solved in the Flanders family history line, and JANE FLANDERS is one of them!

St. Michael’s Orphanage, La Crosse WI

John (Jack), Beverly, Roy, and Bob all spent time at St Micheals. Bob spent 13 yrs total. He went in at two yrs. Roy told Tim Gavigan in 2024 that John “Jack” Gavigan ran away from the Orphanage. Roy remembers riding in a car with officials to La Crosse.

2 Are Dead, One Missing In Canyon

GRAND CANYON, ARIZ, July 27 AP: The body of a Roman Catholic priest missing in the Grand Canyon since Saturday was found Monday at the base of a 200-foot cliff.

Accident at Lake Fatal

Merle [Merrill] McGilligan, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. [Thomas & Zula Hall] McGilligan, of Algona, former residents of this city, died yesterday at 6:30 p.m. at the Mercy hospital in Mason City.

Hospitality

Gavigan Hotel (Blanchardville WI), John Starry (Higbee Hotel 102 S Iowa St Dodgeville), Edward McGilligan (512 Oak St Arena WI), Doran (512 Oak St), Crowley (512 Oak St), Rupp (Vilas House, Park Hotel), Murphy (Vilas House), John R McGilligan (Lake City Hotel, Lake View Hotel), Trotter, and Williams owned or worked at lodging and/or Dining establishments (Hotels, Resorts, Pool Halls, and Taverns)

The Railroad

Dodgeville, Wisconsin had multiple railroad lines, including the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, the Illinois Central Railroad, and the Freeport, Dodgeville & Northern Railroad.

Lake City House / Lake View Hotel / John R McGilligan

John R McGilligan 510 E Wilson Street – Lake City Hotel – Lake View Hotel (Germania House Hotel)

Found Frozen Stiff in a Field

William Gavigan of the township of Adams perished with Monday night’s storm. He was found yesterday afternoon frozen stiff in a field with nothing but his boots protruding from the snow.

Higbee Hotel Dodgeville WI – John Starry – 1905

This three-story hotel, which has conducted business as such since 1849, features a rectangular-shaped plan configuration, a cut stone foundation, a combination brick and concrete block exterior and a flat roof. In the early twentieth century the hotel was owned by John Starry, charus phillips (1909-1916)

Rev. Edward l. Buckner dies after being shot near his home

Rev. Edward L. Buckner, of Zalma, died last Friday morning at the Cape hospital where he had been taken for an operation after being shot

Wagon Accident

Ida May Slawson Stevens died at age 49 when a wagon she was riding in overturned and she was killed.

Timeline

Search this web site

Census Records

Today in History

LCprl Jean Pierre Dowling, KIA in Vietnam - USMC

The team moved to 598379 and was going to await the helicopters or until darkness and then move out.

After waiting an hour. the VC opened up on the team again from about 10 feet away. This broke up the team. The initial burst killed LCpl DOWLING. LCpl SOLOVSKOY returned fire and killed two VC
…. Read More here

1983: Madison West Goes 18-2 to Win the State Hockey Championship

Dan Gavigan grandson of Thomas Leo Gavigan was a member of this Team

The only State Hockey Championship in School History!

Grandchildren of Maggie McCue and John Lunda

Kay and Karen Lunda

(Kay) 1972 Winter Olympics – 500 metres in Sapporo, Japan
(Karen) Alternate for the 1976 U.S. team in Innsbruck, Austria

Royal Lineage

Those That served

Upcoming Birthdays

Ellen PLANK	22 SEP
Sewall Andrews CLEFTON	22 SEP
Claude Clyde CLEFTON	22 SEP
Bernadine Deloris SAINSBURY	22 SEP
Jean Pierre DOWLING	22 SEP
Michael James GALWAY	22 SEP
Frank J DERLETH	23 SEP
Michael L YAGER	23 SEP
Michael James CLEARY	23 SEP
Sanford Merle HALLIMORE	23 SEP
John Wilbert GAVIGAN	23 SEP
Catherine Ann ARTHUR	24 SEP

Upcoming Anniversaries

Edward E MCDERMOTT and Margaret CROWLEY	23 SEP
Eldon L. WILSON and Katherine (Kitty) Lissette MEYER	23 SEP
Edmund Theodore KUBIAK and Mary Elizabeth "Betty" DOCHNAHL	25 SEP
Frank LITTLE and Katherine Irene DORAN	26 SEP
Bryan RANDELL and Heidi Lissette WILSON	26 SEP
Martin Vincent CROWLEY and Loreto Marie WAGNER	28 SEP
Thomas Sam GAROFOLO and Betty Jean HOMMERSTAD	30 SEP

In Memoriam

Robert Hugh LLOYD	22 SEP 1904
Mildred Eva GALWAY	23 SEP 1953
Theola C. ETHRIDGE	23 SEP 2017
Michael BRENNAN	24 SEP 1853
Michael COLLENTINE	24 SEP 1870
Bridget CONNERY	24 SEP 1900
Catherine DUNLAVY	24 SEP 2015
Baby MCDERMOTT	25 SEP 1901
Hanora FLANAGAN	25 SEP 1943
Josephine MULLEN	25 SEP 1965
William Julius DERLETH	25 SEP 1965
Frank Willard MCDERMOTT	25 SEP 1982
Austin John MCDERMOTT	25 SEP 1991
Thomas Sam GAROFOLO	25 SEP 2007
Mary Jane FARMER	25 SEP 2018

Robert Hugh LLOYD

Birth: 08 JAN 1843
Death: 22 SEP 1904

Mildred Eva GALWAY

Birth: 10 OCT 1911
Death: 23 SEP 1953

Theola C. ETHRIDGE

Birth: 24 JAN 1925
Death: 23 SEP 2017

Michael BRENNAN

Birth: 1800
Death: 24 SEP 1853

Michael COLLENTINE

Birth: 1798
Death: 24 SEP 1870

Bridget CONNERY

Birth: 1830
Death: 24 SEP 1900

Catherine DUNLAVY

Birth: 12 OCT 1922
Death: 24 SEP 2015

Baby MCDERMOTT

Birth: 20 SEP 1901
Death: 25 SEP 1901

Hanora FLANAGAN

Birth: 15 JAN 1860
Death: 25 SEP 1943

Josephine MULLEN

Birth: 25 SEP 1894
Death: 25 SEP 1965

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)