McGavock Family History- Although their is interesting conjecture about the name McGavock, for example(McGuffock, McGaffick, McGavic, McGavick). The name is according to Felix McKillop, preeminent authority, is old Irish "McGavocke". The specific quote is: "The McGavock family have been associated with this sub-denomination with in the townland of Libbert for centuries". Libbert is adjacent to the location of the town of Glenarm. Any connection with Scotland would be "WAY back".
- The pre-history of the McGavocks is caught in the fog of time. It did involve movement back and forth between Scotland and Antrim depending on opportunities, weather, crops and the like. This prehistory was also impacted by the Viking exploitation of the area, both Ireland and Scotland coasts here, which on a good day are visible to each other.
- Patrick(abt. 1693) we speculate that he was a son of Hugh who was either son of Bryan McGavocke,John McGavocke, Murtagh McGavocke, Neale McGavocke,Thomas McGavocke. It is most likely that he was the son of Bryan McGavocke of Doonan. All these names show up in the Hearts Roll Barony of Glenarm in 1666. Felix McKillop - Glenarm historian- Best source for Irish McGavock research. This is the McGavock homelands. He was two books:
1. 'Townlands, People and Traditions.' and '2. Glencloy, a local history (including Carnlough)' with earliest mentions. - Patrick McGavock died in Ireland age 85. He was a farmer and had a son Alexander (b.1791)
- Alexander(d. 1861) married Sarah Devlin(d. 1854)and had son Hugh born Jan.26, 1828.Hugh was one of 6 children. They Immigrated From Glen Arm, Antrim, Ireland via Belfast, New York, Erie Canal to Little Fort(Waukegan, Il then to Fox Lake, IL. in 1847. Hugh purchased a 120-160 acre farm on Squaw Creek paying 100 pounds.(See new letter from Jim Owen, where Sarah details the immigration.)
- Hugh born in County Antrim schooled in Ireland. Came to the U.S. with his parents at age 19 in 1847.
- Hugh became involved in contracting railroad construction on the "Old Galena Line"- now the Northwestern. Hugh built the Northwestern section to Beloit and settled in 1852. He had a twenty year career as a railroad contractor.
- Hugh married Catharine Buckley in Janesville Feb.1 1857. They had 11 children. Alexander was the first born. The McGavock's became land owner 1000 acres on Beloit's west side. They raise sheep(over 3000 at one point), tobacco, broom corn and other farm produce. Much of this land in presently in the city limits and is known as "McGavock Heights" and "McGavock subdivisions". St. Jude's Church and Lincoln Historical Center sit on the "old McGavock forty". Two stores built 1901 and 1904 can still be seen on Fourth St. They are known as the McGavock Block and housed groceries and lumber/coal.
- Hugh had a great Uncle From Virginia who was a soldier under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary Army. Hugh had relatives in the Tennesee where Gen. John McGavock was an officer in the Confederacy. (See Cool McGavock connections below).
- Alexander married Velma Elizabeth Smith and had six children. Only John Francis survived. Velma was the daughter of Charles Euston Smith and Elenor Lawless. Velma died giving birth to John. Alexander abandoned John, who was raised by his grandmother. Alexander moved to Chicago and remarried Martha Handy of Lake Geneva and then Kate Egan and settled in Lake Geneva, WI.
- John Francis married Harriet Hawkins. They had 8 children. John, Mary, Velma, Cecil, Cay, Dan, Ed and Joan.
- Velma married Edward H. Van Rens in Beloit in 1940. They had eight children. Peter, Charles, Catherine, Jan, James, Thomas, Robert and Victoria. Our Family
- Charles(Chuck) was born in Aug. 3, 1943. He marries Judith Ann Matlack Aug. 3, 1968. They had five sons, Peter, Daniel, John, Edward and James.
- As for 2010 we have Peter(Amanda Donnelly) and son Alexander; Daniel(Gretel Filipe) and daughters Olivia and Clara; John(Robyn Renie) and sons Louis and Angus; Edward and James.
- Distinguished Southern Branch of McGavocks. The Book " The McGavock family. A genealogical history of James McGavock and his descendants from 1760 to 1903" by Robert Gray and the book "Pen and Sword; the life and journals of Randall W. McGavock, do a fine job of chronicling this branch.
- Fort Chiswell Mansion, a McGavock home, built in 1837 anchored the families impact of the early American Frontier.
- Cool McGavock connection in Nashville, TN. is the "Two Rivers Mansion", 3130 McGavock Parkway, It was built in 1859 by David H. McGavock on inherited land from his wife Willie's father, William Harding. The small house was built in 1802. Dr. James Priestley's Academy established in 1816 was located on the 1,100 acre farm one mile from the mansion on the Cumberland River Bluff. Opreyland is built on McGavock property. The McGavock stadium and high school are next to the mansion on McGavock Parkway.
- The McGavock Confederate Cemetary is the largest private Confederate Cemetery in the country. Located at Randall McGavock's Carnton Plantation. Randall McGavock was Lt. Col. in the Confederacy and former Mayor of Nashville. He's home Carnton Plantation is a sight to see. He ia written about by Ed Gleeson in his book Rebel Sons of Erin.
Contents
 Front: Alexander, Charlotte McGavock-Gallagher, Great,Great-Grandma Sarah Buckley McGavock, Great,Great-Grandpa Hugh, , Mary McGavock Finley, Thomas Back: John, Hugh Jr. Edward, William, James, Patrick |
 L to R: Alexander, John, Hugh, Patrick, William, Thomas, James, Edward |
Window on the past - Directory of Beloit Listings - 1890 to 1924
The Directory of Beloit 1891
The Directory of Beloit 1892
The Directory of Beloit 1893
The Directory of Beloit 1894
The Directory of Beloit 1904 (See Ad)
The Directory of Beloit 1907
The Directory of Beloit 1910
The Directory of Beloit 1912-13
The Directory of Beloit 1914
The Directory of Beloit 1920
The Directory of Beloit 1924
Notes from Alexander McGavock
HUGH McGAVOCK, Senior, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and came to Wisconsin with his father and mother, Alexander and Charlotte Devlin McGavock. Hugh McGavock came to Beloit in 1852. He was a contractor on the Chicago and North Western Railway between Harvard and Beloit when the work stopped at the state line for a time until a franchise could be obtained to extend the line to Madison. The delay caused Mr. McGavock to locate on a farm in the northwestern part of the town of Beloit. With his father, three brothers and two sister, Mr. McGavock bought close to 1,O00 acres of virgin prairie and, opened a limestone quarry, built a stone house, a 80 foot well and curbed it to the bottom with limestone. The house is standing today.
In those days oxen were used to break the virgin sod. Wheat was grown as the main crop on the prairie. Father raised 200 acres of wheat the second year on the farm. This was sowed by hand; there were not many tools in those days. There was a sawmill three miles away at Bass Creek and the barns and outbuildings were all built of rough hardwood and timbers hewn out of logs.
Along with wheat growing he raised sheep and had upwards of 3,000 sheep on the prairie before the Civil war. His next venture was raising broom corn, which required a lot of hand labor He raised 200 acres of the broom corn and its planting and harvesting often required the service of from 50 to 75 boys, girls and men.
His next big venture was tobacco and he planted as much as 55 acres in a single year. That was about 1883. When he planted 20 acres in the city of Belolt he purchased 40 acres of land bounded by Eighth street Hackett, St. Lawrence and Portland. You will find quite a number of your readers in and around Beloit who remember the broom corn and tobacco.
Hugh McGavock married Catherine Buckley at Janesville on Feb. 9, 1857, and they started their married life on the farm where 11 children were born. Ten of the children grew to manhood and womanhood. All spent their boyhood and girlhood on the old farm When the youngest was 21 the family moved to Beloit in 1882.
Mr. McGavock started at once to lay out subdivisions, of which there are quite a number bearing his name. The family of eight sons and two daughters all started city life in Beloit. Alex and John started A grocery store in 1882 that has in the family for 30 years. The children were Alex. John, Hugh, Patrick, Thomas, James. William, Edward, Charlotte Gallagher and Mrs. Mary Finley
Alex McGavock, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
In those days oxen were used to break the virgin sod. Wheat was grown as the main crop on the prairie. Father raised 200 acres of wheat the second year on the farm. This was sowed by hand; there were not many tools in those days. There was a sawmill three miles away at Bass Creek and the barns and outbuildings were all built of rough hardwood and timbers hewn out of logs.
Along with wheat growing he raised sheep and had upwards of 3,000 sheep on the prairie before the Civil war. His next venture was raising broom corn, which required a lot of hand labor He raised 200 acres of the broom corn and its planting and harvesting often required the service of from 50 to 75 boys, girls and men.
His next big venture was tobacco and he planted as much as 55 acres in a single year. That was about 1883. When he planted 20 acres in the city of Belolt he purchased 40 acres of land bounded by Eighth street Hackett, St. Lawrence and Portland. You will find quite a number of your readers in and around Beloit who remember the broom corn and tobacco.
Hugh McGavock married Catherine Buckley at Janesville on Feb. 9, 1857, and they started their married life on the farm where 11 children were born. Ten of the children grew to manhood and womanhood. All spent their boyhood and girlhood on the old farm When the youngest was 21 the family moved to Beloit in 1882.
Mr. McGavock started at once to lay out subdivisions, of which there are quite a number bearing his name. The family of eight sons and two daughters all started city life in Beloit. Alex and John started A grocery store in 1882 that has in the family for 30 years. The children were Alex. John, Hugh, Patrick, Thomas, James. William, Edward, Charlotte Gallagher and Mrs. Mary Finley
Alex McGavock, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
From the First Families comment in Book of Beloit, p.176, Erin Came Pioneers
Hugh McGavock came to Beloit about 1853 with his parents and became famous as a railroader. He was a large contractor on the Union Pacific and the Northern Pacific.
Notes form Beloit Daily News
Hugh McGavock, Sr. - One of the earliest pioneers and potent factors in the development of Beloit, passes quietly away at his home, 805 Ninths Street, June 2 1908, at the age of eighty years.
Mr. McGavock was born in County Antrim, Ireland; January 26, 1828. His parents, Alexander and Sarah McGavock, with their family of four sons and two daughters, emigrated to the United States in 1847, settling at Fox Lake, Ill. The remainder of the lives of the parents of the deceased were spent there his mother dying in 1854 and his father in 1861, during a visit to Beloit. Both were loyal Catholics. The deceased received his schooling in Ireland and accompanied his parents to this country at the age of nineteen. Being a young man of no little ability and enterprise, he soon entered business for himself and obtained the construction of the old Galena railroad, now part of the North-Western system. For twenty years he followed this business with profitable returns and in 1852 he removed to Beloit, where he purchased a farm of 444 acres in the same township. His interest in the development of farming lands in southern Wisconsin has been marked. His in vestments were large and he at one time owned 800 acres of improved farm land. Although he has disposed of a large portion of it, there are still extensive real estate interests included in his estate, particularly the old home farm, a forty-acre tract, that has been subdivided into town lots, and his late handsome home which he built himself. He has always been an active and progressive man and one whose career has denoted a man who has been persevering and strong in himself.
Hugh McGavock was wedded to Miss Catharine Buckley of Janesville, February 1, 1857. Their union was blessed with nine sons and two daughters, only one of whom, Thomas, the seventh son, is now deceased. Both had received the earnest training of the Catholic faith, were members of St. Thomas' church, of this city, and both died as they had lived, ardent and unwavering believers. In politics Hugh McGavock was well known as a staunch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party.
During his forty-nine years' residence in this city he watched it grow from a historic village to the present beautiful city. In his immediate family he is survived by eight sons-Alexander, John, Hugh, Jr., Patrick, William, James and Edward; two daughters, Mrs. P. H. Gallagher and Miss Mary McGavock, all of whom now have their homes in this city. He also leaves one brother, William John McGavock, whose home is in Mexico.
Mr. McGavock was born in County Antrim, Ireland; January 26, 1828. His parents, Alexander and Sarah McGavock, with their family of four sons and two daughters, emigrated to the United States in 1847, settling at Fox Lake, Ill. The remainder of the lives of the parents of the deceased were spent there his mother dying in 1854 and his father in 1861, during a visit to Beloit. Both were loyal Catholics. The deceased received his schooling in Ireland and accompanied his parents to this country at the age of nineteen. Being a young man of no little ability and enterprise, he soon entered business for himself and obtained the construction of the old Galena railroad, now part of the North-Western system. For twenty years he followed this business with profitable returns and in 1852 he removed to Beloit, where he purchased a farm of 444 acres in the same township. His interest in the development of farming lands in southern Wisconsin has been marked. His in vestments were large and he at one time owned 800 acres of improved farm land. Although he has disposed of a large portion of it, there are still extensive real estate interests included in his estate, particularly the old home farm, a forty-acre tract, that has been subdivided into town lots, and his late handsome home which he built himself. He has always been an active and progressive man and one whose career has denoted a man who has been persevering and strong in himself.
Hugh McGavock was wedded to Miss Catharine Buckley of Janesville, February 1, 1857. Their union was blessed with nine sons and two daughters, only one of whom, Thomas, the seventh son, is now deceased. Both had received the earnest training of the Catholic faith, were members of St. Thomas' church, of this city, and both died as they had lived, ardent and unwavering believers. In politics Hugh McGavock was well known as a staunch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party.
During his forty-nine years' residence in this city he watched it grow from a historic village to the present beautiful city. In his immediate family he is survived by eight sons-Alexander, John, Hugh, Jr., Patrick, William, James and Edward; two daughters, Mrs. P. H. Gallagher and Miss Mary McGavock, all of whom now have their homes in this city. He also leaves one brother, William John McGavock, whose home is in Mexico.
Notes from Commemorative Biographical Record History of Rock, Green, Grant and Iowa Counties 1901
HUGH McGAVOCK, now retired from active business life, and residing at No. 805 Ninth street, Beloit, Rock county, has been a potent factor in the development of that city. He has always been an active and progressive man, bound to push things, full of enterprise and laudable ambition. His career is an instructive one, showing as it does what a brave spirit can accomplish without adventitious aid, if the man will only persevere and be strong in himself.
Mr. McGavock was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Jan.26, 1828, a son of Alexander and Sarah (Devin). McGavock,' both natives of Ireland. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters, and emigrated to the United States in 1847, settling at Fox Lake, Ill., where the senior. McGavock bought an eighty-acre farm, partially improved, and 120 acres of government land wholly unimproved. There he spent the remainder of his life, but died in Beloit, while on a visit to that city in 1861, having reached the age of seventy years. His wife died ahout 1854. Both were loyal Catholics. His father, Patrick McGavock, was a farmer, and died in Ireland when eighty-five. He had a family of four sons and two daughters. The father of Mrs. Alexander McGavock, Patrick Devlin, died in Ireland when about eighty years old. He was a farmer, and reared a family of four daughters and three sons.
Hugh McGavock received his schooling in Ireland, and was a young man of nineteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to this country. He soon went into business for himself, and began contracting on the construction of the old Galena railroad, now a part of the Northwestern system. This work proved profitable, and he followed it for twenty years or more on a large scale. In 1852 Mr. McGavock came to Beloit and bought a farm of 444 acres in the township of Beloit, which is still in his possession. He has taken much interest in the development of farm property in southern Wisconsin, investing his money freely in it, and at one time owned as many as 800 acres. He has sold much of it, but still has extensive real-estate interests in and around Beloit, particularly a forty-acre tract that is laid off in town lots. In the city he owns two houses which he rents, and for the past nine years he has occupied his present home on Ninth Street, built by him, and designed to be his home as long as he shall live.
Hugh McGavock and Miss Catharine Buckley were married in Janesville, Wis., Feb. 1, 1857. Mrs. McGavock is a daughter of John and Margaret (Fitzgerald) Buckley, of Janesville, and has become the mother of nine sons and two daughters: (1) Alexander, the first born, is a grocer and market man at 3108 State street, Chicago; he married (first) Velmy Smith, who bore him six children, but one of whom, John Francis, is yet living. She died in 1886, and Alexander then wedded Kate Eagan, by whom he has one son, Stephen. (2) John is a grocer in Beloit, and is unmarried. (3) Hugh, Jr., is a coal, wood and lumber dealer in Beloit; he married Catharine Findley, and is the father of five children, Thomas, Genevieve, Lilah, Marion and Hugh. (4) William (1), born May 5. 1862, died Nov. 1, 1863. (5) William (2), a farmer and Stone quarryman at Beloit, married Mame Cantwell, and has three children, Kittie, Mildred and the baby. (6) Patrick runs a grocery and meat market at 917 West 63d street, Chicago; he married Maude Lynch, and has one child, Josephine. (7) Thomas, a merchant in Chicago, is unmarried. (8) James is a contractor at Chicago Heights; he married Alice McMiniment. (9) Charlotte is bookkeeper and cashier for her brother Patrick in Chicago. (10) Edward is in the meat business in Chicago. (11) Mary is at borne.
Mr. and Mrs. McGavock are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Democrat, and is a stauch advocate of the time-honored principles of his party. Mr. McGavock has been a very successful man in all his business undertakings. Starting in life a poor boy, he has achieved results of which any man might be proud. He has given all his children a good start in life, and like him they are progressive and enterprising., He has been a resident of Beloit for forty-nine years, and has seen this beautiful city develop from a small village.
He has friends in the South, where Gen. John McGavock. a relative of his, was an officer
in the Confederate army. Mr. McGavock had a great-uncle who was a soldier under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary army, and in after years became an eminent civil engineer. On his mother's side he had relatives who came to America in 1798, during the rebellion in Ireland, Mrs. McGavock's parents were early settlers in Janesville, coming from Ireland and settling there in 1849.
Mr. McGavock was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Jan.26, 1828, a son of Alexander and Sarah (Devin). McGavock,' both natives of Ireland. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters, and emigrated to the United States in 1847, settling at Fox Lake, Ill., where the senior. McGavock bought an eighty-acre farm, partially improved, and 120 acres of government land wholly unimproved. There he spent the remainder of his life, but died in Beloit, while on a visit to that city in 1861, having reached the age of seventy years. His wife died ahout 1854. Both were loyal Catholics. His father, Patrick McGavock, was a farmer, and died in Ireland when eighty-five. He had a family of four sons and two daughters. The father of Mrs. Alexander McGavock, Patrick Devlin, died in Ireland when about eighty years old. He was a farmer, and reared a family of four daughters and three sons.
Hugh McGavock received his schooling in Ireland, and was a young man of nineteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to this country. He soon went into business for himself, and began contracting on the construction of the old Galena railroad, now a part of the Northwestern system. This work proved profitable, and he followed it for twenty years or more on a large scale. In 1852 Mr. McGavock came to Beloit and bought a farm of 444 acres in the township of Beloit, which is still in his possession. He has taken much interest in the development of farm property in southern Wisconsin, investing his money freely in it, and at one time owned as many as 800 acres. He has sold much of it, but still has extensive real-estate interests in and around Beloit, particularly a forty-acre tract that is laid off in town lots. In the city he owns two houses which he rents, and for the past nine years he has occupied his present home on Ninth Street, built by him, and designed to be his home as long as he shall live.
Hugh McGavock and Miss Catharine Buckley were married in Janesville, Wis., Feb. 1, 1857. Mrs. McGavock is a daughter of John and Margaret (Fitzgerald) Buckley, of Janesville, and has become the mother of nine sons and two daughters: (1) Alexander, the first born, is a grocer and market man at 3108 State street, Chicago; he married (first) Velmy Smith, who bore him six children, but one of whom, John Francis, is yet living. She died in 1886, and Alexander then wedded Kate Eagan, by whom he has one son, Stephen. (2) John is a grocer in Beloit, and is unmarried. (3) Hugh, Jr., is a coal, wood and lumber dealer in Beloit; he married Catharine Findley, and is the father of five children, Thomas, Genevieve, Lilah, Marion and Hugh. (4) William (1), born May 5. 1862, died Nov. 1, 1863. (5) William (2), a farmer and Stone quarryman at Beloit, married Mame Cantwell, and has three children, Kittie, Mildred and the baby. (6) Patrick runs a grocery and meat market at 917 West 63d street, Chicago; he married Maude Lynch, and has one child, Josephine. (7) Thomas, a merchant in Chicago, is unmarried. (8) James is a contractor at Chicago Heights; he married Alice McMiniment. (9) Charlotte is bookkeeper and cashier for her brother Patrick in Chicago. (10) Edward is in the meat business in Chicago. (11) Mary is at borne.
Mr. and Mrs. McGavock are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Democrat, and is a stauch advocate of the time-honored principles of his party. Mr. McGavock has been a very successful man in all his business undertakings. Starting in life a poor boy, he has achieved results of which any man might be proud. He has given all his children a good start in life, and like him they are progressive and enterprising., He has been a resident of Beloit for forty-nine years, and has seen this beautiful city develop from a small village.
He has friends in the South, where Gen. John McGavock. a relative of his, was an officer
in the Confederate army. Mr. McGavock had a great-uncle who was a soldier under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary army, and in after years became an eminent civil engineer. On his mother's side he had relatives who came to America in 1798, during the rebellion in Ireland, Mrs. McGavock's parents were early settlers in Janesville, coming from Ireland and settling there in 1849.
McGavock RR Contracting
The Old Galena Railroad, also known as the Galena & Chicago and Union Railroad, was the site of Hugh's and the McGavock families early contracting endeavors. This road became the Chicago and Northwestern.
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Atrium to Fox Lake, IL
Alexander's original farmstead in Fox Lake, IL. The 120 areas is actually right downtown, Fox Lake. He purchased it in 1847 after emigrating from Ireland with his family. James, a son, brother to Hugh owned a nearby plot on this 1861 platt map.
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Beloit phone call 90
Ad from Directory of Beloit 1904
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McGavock Camp
Hugh was also engaged with the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific.McGavock Camp at Minnesota Jct, Mn. The McGavock's worked railroad grading and construction from the 1840's through the turn of the century. They followed the work from Chicago west and as far south as South Carolina.
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