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

Suicide By Taking Rat Poison

Monday afternoon about 4 o’clock Mrs. Annie Schwartz, wife of John Schwartz, a farmer residing 4 miles west of this city (darlington), while in an insaine condition. took “Rough on Rats”, from the effects of which she died at 2 o’clock Tuesday Morning.

The Democratic Handbook 1898

Published during one of the most racially and politically volatile periods in American history, the Democratic Handbook for 1898 served as a masterclass in propaganda, racial demagoguery, and political strategy.

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.

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)

The Railroad

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

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)

5 Gavigan’s go off to War

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.

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.

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)

Murder in the Hay-field

Mt. Horeb, Wis. –(AP) — Victor R McKay, 38, of Madison, shot and killed Mrs. Ruby Lund Heydon, 25, of Mt. Horeb, and then fatally wounded himself while they sat in a car in a hay-field near here August 17, 1942, a coroner’s jury decided after an inquest yesterday.

Wagon Accident

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

5 Mabbott’s Fight in the Civil War

Five Mabbott Cousins fought in the Civil War. Two Died and one was dishonorably discharged

Kicked on the Head by a Horse

Edward Roarig, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Roarig of Fayette, died April 10th, at Trinity hospital, Milwaukee, where he had been taken for an operation. As was stated in last week’s paper the young man had been working for his uncle, Robert Williams, where he was kicked on the head by a horse.

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.

Where did the original Statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota end up?

Where did the original Statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota end up? Answer: The Statue of Liberty ended up at the farm of ……..

Timeline

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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

John Thomas MABBOTT	27 AUG
Clara Maude BANGLE	27 AUG
Mary Ann MCGILLIGAN	27 AUG
James Henry CROWLEY	27 AUG
Charles Lawrence DORAN	27 AUG
Virginia Catherine LITTLE	27 AUG
Gerald DISRUD	27 AUG
Stephen RASMUSSEN	27 AUG
Terry RASMUSSEN	27 AUG
Susan MANION	27 AUG
Edward ARTHUR	28 AUG
Addie WILLIAMS	28 AUG

Upcoming Anniversaries

Arthur William JANECK and Valeria A O'BRIEN	31 AUG
Gustave Victor FELDT and Geraldine Margaret JANECK	1 SEP
John Daniel RUPP and Mary S QUINN	10 SEP
James Grover HEALY and Ellen CROWLEY	12 SEP
Lewis Merchant MANN and Rose Ann GAVIGAN	13 SEP
Joseph Harold RUPP and Bertha ELBEL	15 SEP
William Anthony MCGILLIGAN and Marion Elizabeth SCHUBERT	15 SEP

In Memoriam

Albert Martin LUND	27 AUG 1951
Anna Marie PFEIFFER	28 AUG 1938
Merle Gordon HEYDON	28 AUG 1971
Thomas Samuel Rolf GAROFOLO	28 AUG 1996
Joseph H BANGLE	29 AUG 1896
Baby ERICKSON	29 AUG 1905
Grover Cleveland WILLIAMS	29 AUG 1939
Phillip Dale GAVIGAN	29 AUG 2017
Johanna FLANAGAN	3 AUG 1942
Minnie SCHWARTZ	3 AUG 1965
Oliver William "Bill" MORIG	3 AUG 1980
Mark Edward GALWAY	3 AUG 1999
Mary CONWAY	30 AUG 1911
Margaret M. WARREN	30 AUG 1922
Irvin Owen LANE	30 AUG 1931

Albert Martin LUND

Birth: 11 NOV 1881
Death: 27 AUG 1951

Anna Marie PFEIFFER

Birth: 30 AUG 1866
Death: 28 AUG 1938

Merle Gordon HEYDON

Birth: 04 JUN 1909
Death: 28 AUG 1971

Thomas Samuel Rolf GAROFOLO

Birth: 11 NOV 1954
Death: 28 AUG 1996

Joseph H BANGLE

Birth: 29 MAY 1852
Death: 29 AUG 1896

Baby ERICKSON

Birth: 28 AUG 1905
Death: 29 AUG 1905

Grover Cleveland WILLIAMS

Birth: 05 JAN 1886
Death: 29 AUG 1939

Phillip Dale GAVIGAN

Birth: 26 SEP 1934
Death: 29 AUG 2017

Johanna FLANAGAN

Birth: 02 APR 1858
Death: 3 AUG 1942

Minnie SCHWARTZ

Birth: 01 MAR 1885
Death: 3 AUG 1965

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)