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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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)

Wagon Accident

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

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)

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.

5 Gavigan’s go off to War

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!

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.

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 ……..

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

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.

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

Elizabeth ELISABETHA DOROTHEA	21 OCT
Leonard O. ANDERSON	21 OCT
Esther Veronica MCINTYRE	21 OCT
Frances Mary KUBIAK	21 OCT
Louis BENEDETTO	21 OCT
Harley W WHITNEY	22 OCT
Michael Richard GAVIGAN	22 OCT
Margaret A STARRY	22 OCT
William Patrick CROWLEY	22 OCT
John William WILLIAMS	22 OCT
Florence V WILLIAMS	22 OCT
Winnefred M FLANDERS	24 OCT

Upcoming Anniversaries

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
John Francis GAVIGAN and Mary Irene ROSE	26 OCT
Malcolm “Dutch” MUENICH and Rosella Mary FLANAGAN	29 OCT
Matthew Michael DORAN and Delia Agnes CROWLEY	14 NOV

In Memoriam

Maria Rosa HOCHSTEIN	21 OCT 1844
Maria GAVIGAN	21 OCT 1897
Forrest Raphael SWIFT	21 OCT 1954
Lester WILLIAMS	21 OCT 1973
Minnie May FLANDERS	22 OCT 1892
William Gregory MUELLER	22 OCT 1954
Elizabeth JoAnn CUNNINGHAM	22 OCT 2013
Alvin Lloyd LUND	23 OCT 1951
Helena Marie FREKEY	23 OCT 2005
Agusta A KUEHL	24 OCT 1911
Elizabeth Ellen BUTLER	24 OCT 1929
Carol Mae FIGI	24 OCT 1987
Mary Elizabeth CAMPBELL	25 OCT 1895
Anna Pauline SEVERSON	25 OCT 1941
Mathilda GOEB	25 OCT 1950

Maria Rosa HOCHSTEIN

Birth: 09 MAY 1805
Death: 21 OCT 1844

Maria GAVIGAN

Birth: 1861
Death: 21 OCT 1897

Forrest Raphael SWIFT

Birth: 02 FEB 1907
Death: 21 OCT 1954

Lester WILLIAMS

Birth: 29 JUN 1901
Death: 21 OCT 1973

Minnie May FLANDERS

Birth: 1888
Death: 22 OCT 1892

William Gregory MUELLER

Birth: 17 OCT 1934
Death: 22 OCT 1954

Elizabeth JoAnn CUNNINGHAM

Birth: 17 SEP 1932
Death: 22 OCT 2013

Alvin Lloyd LUND

Birth: 23 JUN 1895
Death: 23 OCT 1951

Helena Marie FREKEY

Birth: 18 AUG 1917
Death: 23 OCT 2005

Agusta A KUEHL

Birth: 06 JAN 1866
Death: 24 OCT 1911

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)