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.

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.

The Railroad

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

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.

Wagon Accident

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

5 Gavigan’s go off to War

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 ……..

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.

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!

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Petronella TAVENIERS	29 SEP
Walburga VOLZ	29 SEP
Katherine FLANNERY	29 SEP
Raymond William DUNN	29 SEP
Stasey STARRY	29 SEP
Sylvester Christopher Columbus STARRY	29 SEP
Betty Jean HOMMERSTAD	29 SEP
Josiah Ross WARD	30 SEP
Margaret Alice DALY	01 OCT
Ida Regina PAYZANT	01 OCT
Maurice E GAVIGAN	02 OCT
Craig Thomas KUBIAK	02 OCT

Upcoming Anniversaries

Thomas Sam GAROFOLO and Betty Jean HOMMERSTAD	30 SEP
Harry Dennis HAYES and Mary Agnes MCGILLIGAN	10 OCT
Milan Leroy HOLTON and Ruth Annette DORAN	13 OCT
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

In Memoriam

Pauline Prudence DODGE	29 SEP 1872
James DURKIN	29 SEP 1930
Thomas Edward STARRY	29 SEP 1959
Marie Catherine DUNN	29 SEP 1993
Merrill James MCGILLIGAN	29 SEP 1998
Vincent CONWAY	29 SEP 2021
Theodocia CARPENTER	3 SEP 1858
John MONAGHAN	30 SEP 1929
Catherine Mary CALLAHAN	30 SEP 1960
Mary BUTLER	4 SEP 1901
Francis W GAVIGAN	4 SEP 1975
Robert K BENKERT	4 SEP 2011
Margaret E SPARROW	5 SEP 1871
Hugh John BIRMINGHAM	5 SEP 1957
Harrison J. CASE	6 SEP 1923

Pauline Prudence DODGE

Birth: FEB 1825
Death: 29 SEP 1872

James DURKIN

Birth: 18 MAY 1885
Death: 29 SEP 1930

Thomas Edward STARRY

Birth: 12 FEB 1883
Death: 29 SEP 1959

Marie Catherine DUNN

Birth: 08 MAY 1890
Death: 29 SEP 1993

Merrill James MCGILLIGAN

Birth: 11 OCT 1937
Death: 29 SEP 1998

Vincent CONWAY

Birth: 01 AUG 1937
Death: 29 SEP 2021

Theodocia CARPENTER

Birth: 18 NOV 1780
Death: 3 SEP 1858

John MONAGHAN

Birth: 01 APR 1852
Death: 30 SEP 1929

Catherine Mary CALLAHAN

Birth: 01 JUL 1887
Death: 30 SEP 1960

Mary BUTLER

Birth: 1830
Death: 4 SEP 1901

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)