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

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.

The Railroad

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

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)

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Wagon Accident

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

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.

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.

Timeline

Search this web site

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

Mary KINNEY	28 OCT
Parker Lee DURKIN	28 OCT
Carol Eliza FELDT	28 OCT
Georgius Adamus RUPP	29 OCT
Matthew H MCDERMOTT	29 OCT
CeCelia COLLENTINE	29 OCT
Frank S PYRE	31 OCT
John Alexander SCHWARTZ	31 OCT
Mary Kathleen SWIFT	31 OCT
Richard Norbert GAVIGAN	31 OCT
Elizabeth DE WELLES	01 NOV
Hosea H CAMP	01 NOV

Upcoming Anniversaries

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
Francis W GAVIGAN and Louise MEUDT	15 NOV
Edward Thomas MCGILLIGAN and Elizabeth Ann CROWLEY	16 NOV
Thomas Franklin CROWLEY and Catherine Elizabeth RYAN	16 NOV
Roy M CONWAY and Mary Agnes GAVIGAN	16 NOV

In Memoriam

Maynard Franklin CULVER	28 OCT 1931
David F BELL	29 OCT 1912
Katherine Irene DORAN	29 OCT 1927
Lillie Amanda HALL	29 OCT 1928
Kathryn COLLENTINE	29 OCT 1936
Joseph Adam RUPP	29 OCT 1943
Leo William CROWLEY	29 OCT 1977
Roger Joseph REINHOLD	29 OCT 1990
Geneva Fay TROTTER	3 OCT 1970
Sylvester Daniel CROWLEY	3 OCT 1981
Willard Robert ROWE	3 OCT 1997
Mary Ann STATZ	3 OCT 2023
Matous STARý	30 OCT 1825
Mary Ann SPRINGTHORPE	30 OCT 1888
William J DOCHNAHL	30 OCT 1930

Maynard Franklin CULVER

Birth: 22 JUL 1895
Death: 28 OCT 1931

David F BELL

Birth: 15 SEP 1849
Death: 29 OCT 1912

Katherine Irene DORAN

Birth: 26 JUL 1897
Death: 29 OCT 1927

Lillie Amanda HALL

Birth: OCT 1881
Death: 29 OCT 1928

Kathryn COLLENTINE

Birth: 1884
Death: 29 OCT 1936

Joseph Adam RUPP

Birth: 25 JAN 1874
Death: 29 OCT 1943

Leo William CROWLEY

Birth: 29 MAR 1894
Death: 29 OCT 1977

Roger Joseph REINHOLD

Birth: 09 JAN 1917
Death: 29 OCT 1990

Geneva Fay TROTTER

Birth: 24 NOV 1884
Death: 3 OCT 1970

Sylvester Daniel CROWLEY

Birth: 17 NOV 1899
Death: 3 OCT 1981

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)