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.

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.

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

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.

5 Gavigan’s go off to War

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.

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.

Tragedy On Lake Monona

On July 26, 1900, Ellen Jane Rupp “Jennie”, Fannie Dunn, and Nellie Dunn were being rowed back to Madison by Alexius Baas at 11 p.m. when their rowboat was struck by one of the lake steamers, the Tonyawatha, and the four were thrown into the water. Ellen Jane “Jennie” Rupp drowned. “Lex,” the oarsman, saved both of the Dunn sisters.

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.

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.

Hotel Gavigan Blanchardville WI

Thomas Gavigan son of John and Mary (Collentine) Gavigan operated the Gavigan Hotel from 1892- to 1896 at the Corner of Main and Elm in Downtown Blanchardville. Thomas was also on the board of Directors for the Blanchardville Driving Association (racing, training horses)

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.

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)

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!

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

Upcoming Birthdays

William BLANCHARD	13 NOV
Andrew ROARIG	13 NOV
John Henry NEWHOUSE	13 NOV
John Calvin BUTLER	14 NOV
Howard Robert GALWAY	14 NOV
Timothy Michael GAVIGAN	14 NOV
Mary Katherine GAVIGAN	14 NOV
Bridget FLANAGAN	15 NOV
Robert Michael GAVIGAN	15 NOV
John James CAVANAUGH	15 NOV
Georg Joseph RUPP	16 NOV
Mary GAVIGAN	16 NOV

Upcoming Anniversaries

Matthew Michael DORAN and Delia Agnes CROWLEY	14 NOV
Patrick H. CROWLEY and Ida M CHALFANT	14 NOV
Francis W GAVIGAN and Louise MEUDT	15 NOV
Edward Thomas MCGILLIGAN and Elizabeth Ann CROWLEY	16 NOV
Thomas Franklin CROWLEY and Catherine Elizabeth RYAN	16 NOV
Roy M CONWAY and Mary Agnes GAVIGAN	16 NOV
Jacob Phillip LANE and Mary Enona OWEN	19 NOV

In Memoriam

Thomas CONWAY	14 NOV 1859
Romayne D LARSON	14 NOV 2000
Terry Laverne WILLIAMS	14 NOV 2004
Winifred GRAHAM	15 NOV 1900
Harold Lloyd MABBOTT	15 NOV 1949
Sam GAROFOLO	15 NOV 1990
Harriet Josephine ARMSTRONG	15 NOV 2000
Mary S QUINN	16 NOV 1946
Elizabeth Anna CROWLEY	16 NOV 1975
Mary Leona DORAN	17 NOV 1884
Cecil Edward GALWAY	17 NOV 1999
Eliza	18 NOV 1891
Minnie ROARIG	18 NOV 1920
Patrick J PURCELL	18 NOV 1961
Jane SANDUSKY	19 NOV 1683

Thomas CONWAY

Birth: Unknown
Death: 14 NOV 1859

Romayne D LARSON

Birth: 06 JAN 1923
Death: 14 NOV 2000

Terry Laverne WILLIAMS

Birth: 08 JUN 1940
Death: 14 NOV 2004

Winifred GRAHAM

Birth: 15 FEB 1899
Death: 15 NOV 1900

Harold Lloyd MABBOTT

Birth: 09 APR 1891
Death: 15 NOV 1949

Sam GAROFOLO

Birth: 08 MAY 1898
Death: 15 NOV 1990

Harriet Josephine ARMSTRONG

Birth: 22 JAN 1915
Death: 15 NOV 2000

Mary S QUINN

Birth: 19 NOV 1880
Death: 16 NOV 1946

Elizabeth Anna CROWLEY

Birth: 05 JAN 1889
Death: 16 NOV 1975

Mary Leona DORAN

Birth: 04 JUN 1881
Death: 17 NOV 1884

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)