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.

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.

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.

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 ……..

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!

The Railroad

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

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.

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)

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)

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)

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.

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.

5 Mabbott’s Fight in the Civil War

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

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

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.

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

Winnefred M FLANDERS	24 OCT
John Rolfe THOMPSON	25 OCT
Betsy Ann LUND	25 OCT
Katherine (Kitty) Lissette MEYER	25 OCT
Adriaen VOLKRIJCK	26 OCT
Rachel Maria DODGE	26 OCT
John S STEVENS	26 OCT
Voyle Richard MABBOTT	26 OCT
Rosalie Fay GAVIGAN	26 OCT
Ralph Michael GAVIGAN	26 OCT
Kathrine DOCHNAHL	26 OCT
Timothy Micheal GAVIGAN	26 OCT

Upcoming Anniversaries

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
Patrick H. CROWLEY and Ida M CHALFANT	14 NOV

In Memoriam

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
Camillus J MURPHY	25 OCT 1967
Karl V. WILLIAMS	25 OCT 2020
Marjorie Ann BENKERT	25 OCT 2020
John Henry NEWHOUSE	26 OCT 1907
William BASSET	27 OCT 1384
Elizabeth Ann GAVIGAN	27 OCT 1886
Bertha NEVELS	27 OCT 1974

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

Elizabeth Ellen BUTLER

Birth: 17 SEP 1858
Death: 24 OCT 1929

Carol Mae FIGI

Birth: 30 MAY 1921
Death: 24 OCT 1987

Mary Elizabeth CAMPBELL

Birth: 1817
Death: 25 OCT 1895

Anna Pauline SEVERSON

Birth: 05 APR 1856
Death: 25 OCT 1941

Mathilda GOEB

Birth: 22 JUN 1874
Death: 25 OCT 1950

Camillus J MURPHY

Birth: 06 OCT 1901
Death: 25 OCT 1967

Karl V. WILLIAMS

Birth: 26 MAY 1929
Death: 25 OCT 2020

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)