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

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.

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)

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.

5 Gavigan’s go off to War

Higbee Hotel Dodgeville WI – John Starry – 1909 to 1916

Higbee 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)

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

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.

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.

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.

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 ……..

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!

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.

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.

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.

5 Mabbott’s Fight in the Civil War

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

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

Upcoming Birthdays

Gulbrand GULBRANDSON	16 OCT
Adeleida Johanna STEVENS	16 OCT
John Henry YAGER	16 OCT
Nancy Jane CURRY	16 OCT
James Edward FARMER	16 OCT
John J. CROWLEY	17 OCT
Robert James COLLENTINE	17 OCT
Melvin John RUDEBECK	17 OCT
John Raymond KEEGAN	17 OCT
William Gregory MUELLER	17 OCT
Phillip Charles KEYES	18 OCT
Catherine DEVINE	20 OCT

Upcoming Anniversaries

Lawrence Taylor MCCONNELL and Mary Elizabeth HARRISON	19 OCT
Merchant MANN and Mary B. CHAPIN	20 OCT
Merrill James MCGILLIGAN and Chris HENLEY	20 OCT
Richard KUBLY and Kelly FULTON	22
Thomas FLANAGAN and Bridget C DALY	23 OCT
Patrick Francis GALWAY and Mary GAVIGAN	26 OCT
Charles DORAN and Alza Althea MEYER	26 OCT

In Memoriam

William BRAZEL	16 OCT 1851
Eliza COLLENTINE	16 OCT 1918
Edward Malcolm MONAGHAN	16 OCT 1927
Joanna BARTLETT	16 OCT 1939
Margaret Rosella RUPP	16 OCT 1942
Raymond Laverne TROTTER	16 OCT 1998
Mary WALTERS	18 OCT 1844
Katie STARRY	18 OCT 1885
Pearl McRillis PEMBER	18 OCT 1954
George H SCHWARTZ	18 OCT 1960
Hervey Irvin LANE	18 OCT 1991
Maria Cornelia TAALMAN	19 OCT 1847
Thomas CONWAY	2 OCT 1927
Maria Elizabeth BRAZEL	2 OCT 1937
John Thomas STARRY	2 OCT 1949

William BRAZEL

Birth: 16 DEC 1809
Death: 16 OCT 1851

Eliza COLLENTINE

Birth: 28 MAR 1896
Death: 16 OCT 1918

Edward Malcolm MONAGHAN

Birth: 25 MAR 1897
Death: 16 OCT 1927

Joanna BARTLETT

Birth: 14 SEP 1869
Death: 16 OCT 1939

Margaret Rosella RUPP

Birth: 07 MAR 1883
Death: 16 OCT 1942

Raymond Laverne TROTTER

Birth: 28 JUN 1917
Death: 16 OCT 1998

Mary WALTERS

Birth: ABT 1813
Death: 18 OCT 1844

Katie STARRY

Birth: 19 JUN 1882
Death: 18 OCT 1885

Pearl McRillis PEMBER

Birth: 16 AUG 1900
Death: 18 OCT 1954

George H SCHWARTZ

Birth: 05 NOV 1865
Death: 18 OCT 1960

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)