John Gavin bought 120 acres of land and built his house in Magnolia Township.

The evidence

• “JOHN GAVIN, deceased; born May 12, 1812, in County Galway, Ireland. Came to America an 1839, and located in New York City ; next went to Troy; then to Albany, and afterward to Massachusetts; came to Wisconsin in 1848 ; stayed in Milwaukee a short time ; then went to Troy, Walworth Co.; then to Decatur, Green Co., and finally settled in Magnolia Township, Rock Co.; in the spring of 1855, bought 120 acres of land and built his house. Married Miss Honora Conallin, of Ireland, in 1837 ; he died April 11, 1879, leaving eight children — Patrick H., Margaret, Eleanor, John C, Michael S., Honora, William P. and James F.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/33-bios-magnolia.md, PDF p. 874

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources