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

5 Gavigan’s go off to War

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

Wagon Accident

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

5 Mabbott’s Fight in the Civil War

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

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)

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.

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

Those That served

Upcoming Birthdays

Rose Ann LYNCH	01 SEP
James E WILLIAMS	01 SEP
Nelvin LUNDA	01 SEP
Frank J BRADY	01 SEP
Brennan MCDERMOTT	01 SEP
Lee Charles HOTTMANN	02 SEP
Lucy Francis GIBSON	02 SEP
Floyd Winfield WHITT	02 SEP
Ralph HOMMERSTAD	02 SEP
Nicholas Ryan MEYER	02 SEP
Mary Ann MULLEN	03 SEP
Mary Katherine BILLS	03 SEP

Upcoming Anniversaries

Gustave Victor FELDT and Geraldine Margaret JANECK	1 SEP
John Daniel RUPP and Mary S QUINN	10 SEP
James Grover HEALY and Ellen CROWLEY	12 SEP
Lewis Merchant MANN and Rose Ann GAVIGAN	13 SEP
Joseph Harold RUPP and Bertha ELBEL	15 SEP
William Anthony MCGILLIGAN and Marion Elizabeth SCHUBERT	15 SEP
Edward ROBINSON and Martha SCHRENKENGHAUST	16 SEP

In Memoriam

Edward CROWLEY	1 SEP 1923
Elizabeth Ann RUPP	1 SEP 1953
Levi PARTRIDGE	10 SEP 1909
George Alden THOMPSON	10 SEP 1918
Clinton MONTGOMERY	10 SEP 1973
Jane Elizabeth DORAN	10 SEP 1997
Charles E MONTGOMERY	10 SEP 1998
Grace Mae CULVER	11 SEP 1943
Rozella LUND	11 SEP 1976
Robert Willard ROWE	11 SEP 1992
Rosemary MCGILLIGAN	11 SEP 2006
Johann Georg RUPP	12 SEP 1785
Mary Elizabeth BUTLER	12 SEP 1894
Patrick CASEY	12 SEP 1929
Nicholas Arnold MEYER	12 SEP 1950

Edward CROWLEY

Birth: DEC 1861
Death: 1 SEP 1923

Elizabeth Ann RUPP

Birth: 25 APR 1875
Death: 1 SEP 1953

Levi PARTRIDGE

Birth: 12 FEB 1823
Death: 10 SEP 1909

George Alden THOMPSON

Birth: 24 MAR 1862
Death: 10 SEP 1918

Clinton MONTGOMERY

Birth: 11 JAN 1910
Death: 10 SEP 1973

Jane Elizabeth DORAN

Birth: 07 APR 1916
Death: 10 SEP 1997

Charles E MONTGOMERY

Birth: 06 JUN 1933
Death: 10 SEP 1998

Grace Mae CULVER

Birth: 08 OCT 1876
Death: 11 SEP 1943

Rozella LUND

Birth: 10 JAN 1888
Death: 11 SEP 1976

Robert Willard ROWE

Birth: 24 MAR 1927
Death: 11 SEP 1992

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)