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

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.

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 – 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)

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 ……..

Wagon Accident

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

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.

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.

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)

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

David F BELL	15 SEP
Mary Ann FLANAGAN	15 SEP
Thomas Francis BIRMINGHAM	15 SEP
John Joseph MCDERMOTT	15 SEP
James Grover RYAN	15 SEP
Terry Milan HOLTON	15 SEP
Joseph James WARREN	16 SEP
Anna Regina DUNN	16 SEP
Debora Ann STANLEY	16 SEP
Robert BRASWELL	17 SEP
Elizabeth Ellen BUTLER	17 SEP
Margaret GAVIGAN	17 SEP

Upcoming Anniversaries

Joseph Harold RUPP and Bertha ELBEL	15 SEP
William Anthony MCGILLIGAN and Marion Elizabeth SCHUBERT	15 SEP
Edward ROBINSON and Martha SCHRENKENGHAUST	16 SEP
John W SCHWARTZ and Maude S BREESE MOTLEY	16 SEP
Floyd Winfield WHITT and Loretta Irene DUNN	19 SEP
Karl V. WILLIAMS and Joan M WITTMAN	21 SEP
Jacob JAEGER and Margaret FRANK	23 SEP

In Memoriam

Gustav Emil Oscar JANECK	15 SEP 1895
Mary Ann KELLY	15 SEP 1928
August Julius DERLETH	15 SEP 1943
Mary Josephine NICHOLS	15 SEP 1970
Thomas Gerald DISRUD	15 SEP 1984
Michael John GAVIGAN	15 SEP 1989
William BLANCHARD	16 SEP 1854
John Theodore MOORMAN	16 SEP 1992
William Francis AMENDA	16 SEP 2019
Matthew Michael DORAN	17 SEP 1933
Elmer Ellsworth WHITNEY	17 SEP 1950
Helen Elizabeth DUNN	17 SEP 1991
Paula Jane DOWNEY	17 SEP 2003
Lois M. STAUFFACHER	18 SEP 1917
James CONDON	18 SEP 1917

Gustav Emil Oscar JANECK

Birth: 01 DEC 1826
Death: 15 SEP 1895

Mary Ann KELLY

Birth: 28 SEP 1860
Death: 15 SEP 1928

August Julius DERLETH

Birth: 18 AUG 1854
Death: 15 SEP 1943

Mary Josephine NICHOLS

Birth: 31 MAY 1893
Death: 15 SEP 1970

Thomas Gerald DISRUD

Birth: 02 JUL 1962
Death: 15 SEP 1984

Michael John GAVIGAN

Birth: 12 MAR 1958
Death: 15 SEP 1989

William BLANCHARD

Birth: 13 NOV 1772
Death: 16 SEP 1854

John Theodore MOORMAN

Birth: 12 JUN 1921
Death: 16 SEP 1992

William Francis AMENDA

Birth: 06 AUG 1933
Death: 16 SEP 2019

Matthew Michael DORAN

Birth: 24 JAN 1861
Death: 17 SEP 1933

Information about the name Gavigan (Mostly Wisconsin)