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.

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)

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.

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)

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.

5 Mabbott’s Fight in the Civil War

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

The Railroad

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

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

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.

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 ……..

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.

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.

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.

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)

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

Phillip Dale GAVIGAN	26 SEP
Connie Jean STANLEY	26 SEP
Thomas Fitz-Christopher PLUNKETT	27 SEP
George Gardiner DODGE	27 SEP
Margaret Agnes MCDERMOTT	27 SEP
Hester Elda YEAROUS	27 SEP
Ida Rose MEYER	27 SEP
Betty Mae BUYATT	27 SEP
Jay Robert ETHRIDGE	27 SEP
Mary Ann KELLY	28 SEP
Earl F. BATCHELOR	28 SEP
Mary Jane MCGILLIGAN	28 SEP

Upcoming Anniversaries

Frank LITTLE and Katherine Irene DORAN	26 SEP
Bryan RANDELL and Heidi Lissette WILSON	26 SEP
Martin Vincent CROWLEY and Loreto Marie WAGNER	28 SEP
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

In Memoriam

Hannah Eliza WARREN	26 SEP 1898
Peter J DOCHNAHL	26 SEP 1933
Harley SCHWARTZ	26 SEP 1970
A. Henry KUBLY	26 SEP 1992
William Branford FLANDERS	27 SEP 1882
Nancy Ann GIBBONS	27 SEP 1885
Patrick Michael GAVIGAN	27 SEP 1898
Bertram W ROSENSTONE	27 SEP 1942
Mary Florence PINKHAM	27 SEP 1972
Esther Veronica MCINTYRE	27 SEP 1974
Hanorah MCCUE	28 SEP 1933
Margaret NEWHOUSE	28 SEP 1943
John Edward MCGILLIGAN	28 SEP 1944
Darlene Catherine FORSETH	28 SEP 2015
Pauline Prudence DODGE	29 SEP 1872

Hannah Eliza WARREN

Birth: 31 AUG 1857
Death: 26 SEP 1898

Peter J DOCHNAHL

Birth: 15 JUL 1857
Death: 26 SEP 1933

Harley SCHWARTZ

Birth:
Death: 26 SEP 1970

A. Henry KUBLY

Birth: 05 JAN 1909
Death: 26 SEP 1992

William Branford FLANDERS

Birth: 16 AUG 1805
Death: 27 SEP 1882

Nancy Ann GIBBONS

Birth: 1818
Death: 27 SEP 1885

Patrick Michael GAVIGAN

Birth: 1835
Death: 27 SEP 1898

Bertram W ROSENSTONE

Birth: 16 FEB 1878
Death: 27 SEP 1942

Mary Florence PINKHAM

Birth: 29 MAR 1887
Death: 27 SEP 1972

Esther Veronica MCINTYRE

Birth: 21 OCT 1891
Death: 27 SEP 1974

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)