From Adams to Warner, many names are associated with the history
of business in Beloit, and not least among these is the name
McGavock. From the 1860s to the 1950s, whether the talk was about
railroads, groceries or lumber, the McGavock name was sure to
come up.
The McGavock's association with Beloit began with the arrival
of Hugh Sr. Born in 1828 in County Antrim, Ireland, he immigrated
to the United States in 1847 with his parents, three brothers,
and two sisters. An enterprising young man, Hugh became a grading
contractor for the old Galena Railroad which eventually became
the Chicago Northwestern. When the line reached the Wisconsin
state line at Beloit in 1852 and construction stalled for a time,
Hugh decided to purchase land in the area and start farming.
He stayed here for the rest of his life.
Hugh married Catherine Buckley in 1857, and together they raised
ten children to adulthood: Alex, John, Hugh Jr., Patrick, Thomas,
James, William, Edward, Charlotte, and Mary. Some well known
Beloit businesses were developed by their children. Alex and
John, and later Hugh Jr., went into the grocery business in Beloit
in 1882 and continued for over 30 years, eventually building
the McGavock block on 4th Street (still standing.) Hugh Jr. and
John went into the coal delivery business and eventually expanded
into lumber and building supplies, known as McGavock Bros. and
later as McGavock Lumber. They were located at Cross Street and
St. Lawrence until the late 1930s, and then moved to Porter Avenue.
They sold the business in the early 1950s. They also had a construction
company, and many quality homes were built in Beloit by the McGavocks;
the author's house was built as a wedding present by the family
for sister Charlotte and her husband in 1906. Most of the family
was involved in these businesses in one way or another.
The land that Hugh Sr. and his family farmed eventually became
important additions to Beloit's west side. The area bounded by
Hackett, Portland, Eighth, and St. Lawrence was know as “McGavock's
Forty,” and here he grew tobacco and dried it in sheds that
were located at 10th and Roosevelt. Mr. McGavock's house still
stands at the corner of 9th and Roosevelt. The land on which
St. Jude's Catholic Church stands was a donation from Hugh McGavock,
a devout Catholic. The current offices of the Beloit Historical
Society are located in McGavock's 3rd Addition, and in all there
are 6 McGavock additions on Beloit's west side.
The
McGavocks were well known for non-business endeavors also. John
and Edward were city aldermen at different times during the first
two decades of this century, and various members of the family
were very active in the affairs of St. Jude in the days of father
Hanz. There was a time when everywhere you turned you encountered
the McGavocks.
Even though the McGavock name isn't as familiar today, their
descendants still live in the area, including Finnegans who are
descended from Hugh Jr. When talk turns to the history of Beloit
100 years ago, whether it be about farming, railroads, retail,
or politics, the McGavocks are sure to figure prominently.
Contents