History of the Restoration Movement


John Allen Gano

"The Apollos Of The West"

1805-1887

Young John A. Gano

Biographical Sketch of John Allen Gano

John Allen Gano was born in Georgetown, Scott county, Kentucky, July 14, 1805. His parents were Gen. Richard M. Gano, of the War of 1812, and Elizabeth, formerly Elizabeth Ewing. His grandparents were Chaplain John Gano, and Sarah, his wife, formerly Sarah Stiles. Chaplain Gano, a Baptist minister, immersed Gen. George Washington during the Revolution. John Allen Gano lost his parents in early life, and was reared under the care of an old uncle, Captain William Hubble, who figured in the War of 1812, and in the Indian Wars, and under such tutelage you might expect a high strung boy, whose thoughts rather inclined to war. He was educated in Georgetown, and partly in Bourbon county. The latter part of his education was under Barton W. Stone, and more especially in the Greek. Stone was the first minister who started out for the Restoration of primitive apostolic Christianity in Kentucky. Gano then studied law and obtained his license to practice from Judge Warren, a prominent Jesuit of Georgetown, Kentucky, and was about to begin the practice of law. He had been of a Baptist family, but had never made profession of faith or attached himself to any church, but attended the meeting held by B. W. Stone, and also those held by Thomas M. Allen. At a meeting held by T. M. Allen he became so thoroughly aroused by a godly sorrow for his sins that he repented, confessed his savior, and was baptized. His sisters were so distressed that they sent seventy miles for a Baptist minister, Jacob Creath, Sr., to come and win Brother John back to the church of his fathers. He came all the way on horse back, and urged the young man to retrace his steps, appealing to him by the love he bore his old grandfather, Chaplain John Gano; and John Allen Gano laid his hand on the New Testament and said, "Elder Creath, if you will show me in this book where it says, "deny yourself, take up your cross and follow your grandfather, I will follow mine through life. But I read it, follow Christ, and I am determined to follow Him until death if it separates me from all the kindred I have on earth." They spent twelve hours in conversation and the old minister was so impressed that he returned the next day and they renewed the conversation, and Jacob Creath, Sr., became convinced, and soon after came out publicly and took his stand with the church that has no book or creed but God's Word and will wear no name but the name of Christ, the only position on which the friends of Christ can ever be united, and John Allen Gano went with all his might to preaching the Gospel of Christ, and had success in winning souls to Christ unequalled in that state. He presented the gospel facts with such clearness and force, and besides this had such wonderful pathos that he could reach the hearts of the people, and gather them into the kingdom of the Master. His labors were principally in Central Kentucky, but extended occasionally into adjoining states, and he made one tour into Louisiana and established a church in Baton Rouge, and the Methodist minister who was kind enough to open the doors of his house to him, found it necessary to close them again because of the loss of his members. It was all done in kindness. He immersed nearly ten thousand persons during his ministry, and such was his success in impressing those who were convinced under his preaching, with the importance of a genuine repentance unto reformation of life, that comparatively few of them ever turned back to the world. A Baptist minister named Morgan Wells, said of him, after his death, that John A. Gano had done more toward forming the religious views and controlling the lives of the people, and making peace among men, than any half dozen ministers in the state put together.

He was, indeed, an able defender of the truth, a close adherent to God's Word, a remarkable exhorter; and his life came up so closely to his preaching that his influence was great, and he could quiet discordant elements to a remarkable degree, and was often called many miles to make peace between men. As a neighbor, a husband, a father, he was hard to excel, and was looked up to and held up as an example as far as he was well known, and his name and memory are cherished by a host of friends. His liberality was proverbial, both to the church and to the world, and his success in business was so remarkable that he amassed a goodly amount of property, notwithstanding his charities, and liberal provision for a large family; and his untiring labors in the Master's vineyard, helping to build churches, and contributing liberally to missionary work. He was also an importer of Shorthorn cattle from England, and made that profitable. But the strange thing in his life was the complete transformation, having been a wild youth, impetuous in his nature. The religion of Christ changed him suddenly to a bright example of a Christian life. His daily work was to save souls, build up the kingdom of Christ on earth and do good every day among his fellow men. So universal was the feeling during the prime of his life, in Central Kentucky, that if we can only get Bro. Gano, here we will have a good meeting. A little incident that occurred in Cynthiana, Kentucky, will illustrate. During the progress of a protracted meeting at that place, they sent for him to come and help them. Bro. Gano arrived, in the midst of a sermon, and walked into the house, and hung his overcoat on the balusters by the side of the pulpit. At dinner (they had a basket dinner on the ground) an old brother remarked, "It did me more good to see Bro. Gano come in and hang up his overcoat, than to have heard a sermon from most any one else, for I knew we were going to have a good meeting." The preaching, example, and life of that man of God will dwell in the memories of the Christians of Central Kentucky as long as they live. Revelations 14:13: Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit. That they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. His last words were, "I am almost home," and with a smile his spirit passed away to that home.

-R.M. Gano, John T. Brown's Churches Of Christ, 1904 p.421-423

Newspaper Obituary
The Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky
Sunday, October 16, 1887, page 5


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Transciption:

Elder Gano.
__________
An Interesting Sketch of the Life and
Services of John Allen Gano,
The Veteran Preacher.
__________
An Immense Crowd of People
Including Many Ministers,
Attend the Funeral

Lexington, Ky., October 15. —[Special]—

The death of Rev. John Allen Gano removes a shining mark from among the noted followers of Alexander Campbell in Kentucky, and causes a pang of sorrow and regret all over the State. No man stood higher as a Christian, or was more widely known.

Elder John A. Gano was born in Georgetown, July 14, 1805. His father, Richard Montgomery Gano, was born in New York City, July 7, 1775, and was the sone of Rev. John Gano, a distinguished Baptist minister, formerly of New York, but dies in this state in 1804. His memoirs were published in New York in 1806. He figured largely during the struggles of the Revolution. The mother of Elder John A. Gano the subject of this sketch, was born in Bedford county, Virginia, but moved to Kentucky in 1797, where she married R.M. Gano, father of John A. She died of consumption in Georgetown, October 22, 1815. Thus, in the eleventh year of his life, John A. Gano was left an orphan. Being anxious to secure an education, and although he did pursue a collegiate course, he entered into some of the best schools which the country afforded, and, together with instruction in the Latin and Greek languages, he received the ordinary course in mathematics and other kindred branches under such eminent teachers as Barton W. Stone, Charles O’Hara and others. His academic course he completed in 1821. He was in bad health a large portion of the time, and traveled all through the southern portion of his native State.

In 1822 he went to reside with his near relative in Cincinnati—Mark. Daniel Gano, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton county, Ohio—and continued in his office for one year, after which, returned to Georgetown in March 1823, he commenced the study of law, under Judge Warren, and, in 1826, was duly examined and admitted to practice. The law was his favorite study, and he was anxious to devote his life to it, but Providence had higher and more important designs to accomplish by him, which these studies, however, would materially aid in carrying out. “In the midst of his preparations for his future career as a lawyer, and while traveling South, with a view of making a location in Texas, he was suddenly and violently attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs. In his affliction he called on the Lord, and resolved, if spared, to become a Christian and seek preparation for a better world. On his return home he was bewildered amidst the various conflicting parties of the day, and he again entered into the world and threw off, to some extent, the various impressions made upon his mind, and it was not until early in the summer of 1827, when he heard Elders B.W. Stone, F. R. Palmer and Thos. Challen preach. That he gave the matter serious attention. Under the immediate labors of the last named gentlemen he embraced religion, and began at once to proclaim the gospel to his fellow-men. He was immersed by Elder T. M. Allen at Georgetown, July 10, 1827. Soon after the profession of his faith in Christ he relinquished the idea of practice of law and determined to preach the cause of Christ.

On August 24, 1827, John A. Gano received from the church at Georgetown a unanimous recommendation to exercise his gift as a preacher and the fruit of his labors were very great. About this time he commenced preaching, in company with T. M. Allen in Paris, Ky., and many became obedient to the faith. In October, 1827, he was married to Miss Mary Catherine Coner, daughter of Capt. William Coner, of Bourbon county, and became, after this, a resident of that county.

In December, 1828, he was regularly ordained to the gospel ministry by Elders B. W. Stone and T. M. Allen, at union, in accordance with the unanimous voice of that church. He engaged in farming as a means of support to his little family, but was hindered but little in his labors, and as far as his health and strength would admit he gave himself wholly to the work. In after years the long and protracted ill-health of his wife restricted his field of labor to the regions about his home, though his heart panted for wider circuit.

About this time he became fully convinced of the scriptural authority and importance of weekly communion, and wrote for the Christian Messenger several essays in its favor. Forfie years he had been preaching in all season and every available point without any compensation. His labors chiefly abounded among the poor churches. He enjoyed their confidence and love; but as he did not need their pecuniary and he did not ask it, being sufficiently rewarded in the happiness he diffused among the followers of Christ in building them up in their most holy faith and in seeing so many new recruits added to their number. When the memorable union movement was inaugurated in Kentucky upon the Bible, and the Bible alone, he was fully prepared in mind and heart to enter into it.

After speaking, in 1843, he had an attacking fo hemorrhage of the lungs, and finding his health and that of his wife seriously impaired, he went late in that year to Louisiana. Early in January, 1847, he went to Baton Rouge and obtained the use of a meeting-house through G.G. Medalion and wife organize a congregation with eleven members—the first church of the kind established in that city on apostolic grounds. He then proceeded to the city of New Orleans and introduced ten or eleven more into the faith. He then returned to Gano Rouge and remained with the infant congregation until it numbered about forty-five, and late in March returned in Kentucky. In January, 1852, he again visited Baton Rouge and aided in the erection of a church. His efforts have been chiefly in the field of an evangelist. Among the more wealthy congregations he has not refused to accept compensation. Bu often has he requested them to bestow their favors toward benevolent objects. When he did not object to others entering into some stipulation with the congregations for support, he chose rather to leave this matter entirely in their hands.

In personal appearance. Elder Gano was a striking figure, tall and graceful. His voice was full of melody and pathos. And he could lead the singing of a congregation with as much success as he fill the pulpit. He was full of zeal, perseverance, and energy, and this, coupled with a benignant and sympathetic disposition, gained the confidence of the many assemblages that his voice reached, and crowned his labors with phenomenal success. He was a typical representative of the old style fo commanding and eloquent exhorters who did such yeomen service in the cause of Christianity in this State. And to whose efforts are due the high standing of the Christian Church in this section.

Elder Gano was the father of eight children, of whom but two survive him, Gen. Richard M. And John A., Jr., who, with their aged mother, mourn his loss.

_______________

Elder Gano’s Funeral.
_______________

An Immense Crowd Of People Attend The Obsequies of the Veteran Minister.

Paris, Ky., October 15 —[Special.]—The funeral of Elder John Allen Gano took place today at the family residence in this this county. An immense concourse of people, estimated at about 2,000, were in attendance from all the surrounding country. And Lexington, Harrodsburg, Paris, and Georgetown. The services were conducted by Elder J. W. McGarvey, of Lexington, assisted by Elder J. S. Sweeney, of Paris, and Elder Mark Collis, of Lexington. Elder McGarvey read the sixth chapter of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians, after which the choir sang, “Asleep in Jesus.” An appropriate prayer was then offered by Elder Collis, followed by remarks by Elders McGarvey, Sweeney and McGinn. The services were concluded with the hymn, “There is a Calm for Those Who Weep.” Each of the speakers dwelt upon the greatness of the life-work of the departed saint of God.

Elder McGarvey said: “Elder Gano was a father in Israel, one of the most widely known fathers of the reformation. Probably no preacher of the gospel in the country was more successful in the ministry. It is said that under his preaching ten thousand persons were brought into the church . Of those who were his contemporaries in the great reformation only two survive. The venerable Philip S. Fall, of Frankfort, now in his ninetieth year, the senior of Gano by eight years, but not in the ministry, and Elder R. C. Ricketts, of Maysville.”

Elder McGarvey, in repeating a description of Elder Gano’s preaching, said he seemed, in his exhortations, as a “strong angel from heaven pleading with sinners. In his early manhood it was at first his purpose to engage int he practice of the law, but when he became a Christian he devoted the high oratorical powers with which he was gifted to the service of the Master, and a successful ministry of sixty-one years justified the wisdom of the choice. He probably officiated at more marriages and more funerals than any preacher in the State. He began his ministry at Leesburg, in Harrison county, in 1826, and he served the people continuously for sixty-one years. Truly, a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel. He was a pioneer and one of the mighty heroes int he reformation, a brave, earnest, consecrated Christian.

“His last sickness was a fitting close to a long life of usefulness and labor and sacrifice. When told by Elder Sweeney. During his last days, that he was too feeble to speak he said: ‘I’m almost home.’ Let me say that as death approached his faith grew stronger and clearer, and when reminded of his intense sufferings he replied: ‘The suffering of this present time are not to be compared to the story which shall be revealed in us.’ He bore his painful illness with resignation and fortitude. Sustained by an unfaltering trust in God. His death will be mourned throughout the entire State and by the Christian people everywhere. Of him it may be said in the appropriate lines repeated by Elder J.B. McGinn at the close of his remarks:
“The pilgrim’s staff is left behind the sword and shield,
The armor dimmed and dented on many a battlefield:
Its now the shining place, the garden of delight,
The palm, the robe, the diadem, the glories ever bright.”

After the services the remains where conveyed to the cemetery at Georgetown, where they will be placed in a vault. The elders of the churches of Leesburg, Old Union and Newtown, of which Elder Gano was pastor at the time of his death. Acted as pall-bearers. I was the largest funeral which has ever taken place in this county.

-The Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, Sunday, October 16, 1887, page 5

Bellevue: The Home Of John Allen And Mary Gano

John Allen Gano's old homeplace is located between Paris and Georgetown on Hwy. 460, near Centerville, just before the Scott/Bourbon County line. It fronts onto Hwy 460 facing north. The old house was built in 1787 by William Conn, whose daughter, Mary Catherine Conn, married John Allen Gano October 2, 1827. The wedding was performed by Barton W. Stone. Before 1895, the farm was called, "Bellevue," but now referred to as "Pennland."

Bellevue - The Home of John Allen & Mary Gano

GPS location of old Gano home is: 38°13'18.3"N 84°23'52.9"W / or D.d. 38.221752, -84.398035

Bellevue is now called Pennland. It is location on Hwy. 460 on the Scott County/Bourbon County line, on the Scott County side.
NOTE: The residence is privately owned. Permission must be accessed before attempting to visit.

Chronology On The Life of John Allen Gano

1653
March 16
Etienne Gayneau, married to Lydia Mestereau in LaRochelle, France. (R., p.7)

1654
May 29
Birth of Stephen Gayneau (R., p.7)

1661
May 9
Etienne and Lydia Gayneau and children arrive in America on the ship “De Beaver,” settling in community of French Huguenot refugees in New Rochelles, New York. (R., p.7)

1679
August 1
Stephen Gayneau (shortened by now to Gano) married Suzannah Usselton on Staten Island, New York. (R.,p.7)

1681
Daniel Gano is born, the second oldest child of Stephen and Suzannah Gano (R., p.7)

1715
Daniel Gano marries Sarah Britton were married. (Of interest is that these two are the great, great, great, great grandparents of Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inventors of the airplane.) (R., p.8)

1727
July 22
Daniel and Sarah Gano give birth to John Gano in Hopewell, New Jersey. (R., p.8,30.)

1758
Daniel Gano, the son of Chaplain John Gano, is born in North Carolina while his father is doing missionary work in that state.

1767
Daniel Gano, the father of John dies. (R. p.8)

1775
Daniel Gano, the son of John Gano, enlists as an ensign of artillery in the Revolutionary War. Early on he became a lieutenant in the 1st New York Regiment. (R., p.31)

1775
July 7
Richard Montgomery Gano is born in New York City while his father is pastor of the First Baptist Church of that city. (R., p.45)

1779
January 12
Elizabeth Ewing is born in Bedford County, Virginia. (R., p.54)

1783
Near the end of the war, John Gano baptized George Washington in the Hudson River, near his Newburgh, NY headquarters, R., p.23

1784
August 7
Captain William Conn, the father of Mary Conn, the future wife of JAG is born.

1784
December 20
Frances Webb, mother of Mary Conn, the future wife of JAG is born.

1788
May
John Gano leaves pastorate of First Baptist Church in New York City to move his family to Kentucky (R., p.24) He arrives at the home of his son, Daniel who is already in the state. (R., 32)

1792
June 4
The Kentucky State Legislature met for the first time, and one of its first acts is to appoint John Gano as the first chaplain of the legislature. (R., p.25)

1797
January 25
Richard Montgomery Gano married Elizabeth Ewing in Kentucky (R., p.46,54).

1801
August
Cane Ridge Revival takes place

1803
Jacob Creath, Sr. succeeds John Gano as pastor of Town Fork Baptist Church in Fayette county. (R., p.29)

1804
August 10
John Gano dies in the seventy-eighth year of his life and is buried in the churchyard of the Forks of Elkhorn church where he is a member. In 1916 his remains are removed to the Revolutionary War Section of Frankfort Cemetery. (R., p.25)

1805
July 14
John Allen Gano is born in Georgetown, Kentucky

1812
April 9
Elizabeth, wife of Richard Montgomery and mother of John Allen, dies of consumption at Georgetown, Kentucky leaving four daughters, Mary, Margaret, Cornelia, and Eliza; and three sons, John Allen, Stephen F., and Richard M. (R., p.54)

1812
Richard Montgomery, John Allen’s father enlists in the War of 1812 (R. P.46).

1814
June 16
Richard M., John Allen’s brother died at a very young age.

1814
October
Richard M. Remarried - to “a widow of Aaron Goforth”

1815
JAG attends a private school in Lexington, Ky (R., p.57)

1815
October 22
After the war, Richard Montgomery Gano died near Georgetown, Kentucky in his forty-first year. John Allen is eleven years old (R., p.55)

1819
JAG attends a private school in Georgetown, Ky operated by Barton W. Stone. (R., p.57)

1821
JAG completed his academic course at the school in Georgetown. (R., p.60)

1822
JAG went to Cincinnati to live with his first cousin, Major Daniel Gano (11 years his senior) (R., -.60)

1823
March
JAG returned to Georgetown to study law under Judge Warren. (R., p.60)

1826
JAG was fully examined, found proficient and licensed to practice law. (R., p.60) Begins making plans to go to Texas. Boards a steamer on a the Ohio river, is violently attacked with a hemorrhage of the lungs. Thinking he will die, he calls on God to spare him and he would preach the gospel. (R., p.61)

1826
September 23
Mary Catherine’s mother passed away. (R., p.68)

1827
Returns home and is exposed to the preaching of his old teacher, B. W. Stone, Francis R. Palmer and Thomas M. Allen (R., p.62).

1827
Early Summer
Moves in briefly with B. W. Stone (R., p.67)

1827
July 10
JAG was immersed into Christ by T. M. Allen at Old Union church building about eight miles out of Georgetown. (R., p.62, 63, 76)

1827
Late July
JAG moves in with sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Ewing of Georgetown. (R., p.67)

1827
Summer
John Allen and T. M. Allen plant churches in Cynthiana and Paris. (R., p.78)

1827
August 24
JAG received from the Georgetown church “a unanimous recommendation to exercise his gift as a preacher wherever Providence might lead him.” (R., p.65)

1827
October 2
JAG married Miss Mary Conn of Centerville, Ky. (R., p.68)

1828
JAG plants the church at Leesburg. Serves this church until his death. Their regular preacher for 59 years. He preached also for Old Union for 55 years (R., p.88.)

1828
September 23
Birth of JAG’s son Captain William Conn (R., p.70)

1828
November
John Allen and Mary Catherine move into “Bellevue,” a gift from Mary’s father. They live here for the next fifty-nine years. (R., p. 68)

1830
Mary Gano, the daughter of John S. Gano (1766- ), first cousin to John Allen Gano, marries David Staats Burnet (1808-1867) (R., p.42)

1830
JAG spends the year laboring at Union, Antioch, sometimes at Leesburg, Paris, Mt. Carmel, Cynthiana, Cooper’s Run. Lexington, Georgetown, Centerville, Newtown and in September I attended the annual meeting at Cane Ridge. (R., p.94)

1830
June 18
Birth of JAG’s son Richard Montgomery (R., p.70, 207-249)

1830-1861
JAG preaches for Cooper’s Run at least this long. (R., p.92)

1831
May
Captain William Hubbell, JAG’s uncle died (R., p.72)

1831
JAG submits articles to The Christian Messenger on the subject of weekly partaking of the Lord’s Supper, the first preacher of the Christian movement to insist on it (R., p. 98-100)

1831
January 1
Merger of the Christian and Disciples movements at Lexington, Ky. The number of both groups total 20,000 members. (R., p. 161)

1832
March 24
Frances Conn (called “Fanny”) daughter of JAG born (R., p.70)

1833
Captain Daniel Gano, son of Reverend John Gano obeyed the gospel under and was baptized into Christ, He was 75 years old. (MH, 1833, pages 357-358)

1833
June
A plague of Asiatic cholera broke out in Central Kentucky. JAG writes about it in his Biographical Notebook. (R., p.111)

1834
June 1
Robert Ewing, son of JAG, born (died in infancy) (R., p.70)

1835
February - March
JAG becomes seriously ill, thinking he might die. (R., p.116)

1836
April 25
Stephen F., son of JAG, born (died in infancy) (R., p.70)

1836
JAG travels much with Thomas M. Allen, just before Allen moved to Missouri in September (R. p.117-120)

1838-1868
30 years association with Cane Ridge church. (R., p.91)

1838
April 13
In a letter from John T. Johnson to Alexander Campbell, Johnson refers to JAG as “the Apollos of the West.” (R., p.123, 131) This was recalled in subsequent generations.

1839
December 11
Franklin M., son of JAG, born (R., p.70)

1839
Late in year a report appears in the Millennial Harbinger that in Bourbon County, Kentucky there are 1535 members. (R., p.141,142) See list on (R., p. 146).

1841
October 19
Eliza G., sister of JAG, born (died in infancy) (R., p.70)

1841
Fall
JAG organizes a church of Christ in Ruddle’s Mills, KY. (R., p.154)

1844
S.M. Scott claims there are 50,00 members of the church in Kentucky. (R., p.163)

1844
November 9
Barton W. Stone passed away at the residence of his daughter in Hannibal, Missouri. First burial west of his home at Diamond Grove Prairie. January 1846, body moved to the cemetery at Antioch Christian Church, seven miles east of Jacksonville, Illinois on the Springfield trail. Final burial at Cane Ridge in the Spring of 1847.(R., p.58. 165)

1845
June 22
JAG delivered a eulogy of his former teacher, B. W. Stone at the Cane Ridge. It was the third memorial service, and the largest. (R., p.58, 165)

1845
July 21
John Allen, Jr. son of JAG born (R., p.70)

1846
JAG preached regularly for the year at Leesburg, Union, Georgetown, and Cynthiana, in addition to mission meetings. (R., p.167)

1847
JAG preached on a monthly basis for Cynthiana, Union, Cane Ridge and Cooper’s Run, and on five-Sunday months at Republican. (R., p.169)

1847
JAG planted a pine tree from his own yard near the base of Barton W. Stone’s freshly planted monument and grave at Cane Ridge. (R., 166)

1848
Early months of the year JAG visits Louisiana - Baton Rouge & New Orleans. Returns to Ky in late March (R., p.173f)

1848 - 1849
JAG preached regularly for Oxford, Union, Cane Ridge. And Cooper’s Run, and in sever mission meetings elsewhere. (R., 171)

1848
June 10
Mary Eliza (called “Mollie”) daughter of JAG born. (R., p.70)

1849
Captain Daniel Gano dies at the age of 91. (R., p.32)

1850
JAG preached monthly for Oxford, Union, Cane Ridge, and Cooper’s Run, with several mission trips. (R., p.179f)

1850
February 4
Fanny Spears, daughter of JAG, dies just a year after graduating from Bethany College, and just prior to her 18th birthday (R., p.71, 173)

1850
Alexander Campbell visits Bellevue some time in the spring after Fanny’s death (R., p.173)

1851
JAG arranges to preach monthly for Oxford, Union. Leesburg and Cooper’s Run, and other mission meetings (R., p.181)

1852
January
JAG made another visit to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Returns to Bellevue by February 12th (R., p.176f)

1852
During the year JAG preached for Leesburg, Antioch, Dry Run and Cooper’s Run along with several mission trips other than the Louisiana trip at the first of the year. Travels some with Thomas M. Allen on his first visit back to Ky from Missouri, also does meetings with John T. Johnson (R., p.182ff)

1854
JAG agrees to preach monthly for Leesburg, Union, Antioch and Cooper’s Run, 5th Sundays at Cane Ridge, and some at Owingsville in May (R., p.186)

1855
JAG agrees to preach monthly for Leesburg, Union, Antioch and Cooper’s Run. Also for Sharpsburg, Millersburg, Ruddles Mills, Pleasant Grove, Mt. Sterling, and Winchester (R., p.186)

1856
JAG preaches monthly for Leesburg, Union, Cane Ridge, and Cooper’s Run (R., p. 189)

1857
JAG preaches monthly for Newtown, Union, Cane Ridge, and Cooper’s Run along with other places (R., p.190)

1857
JAG plants the Newtown church, and continues to preach for this church until his death (R., p.88)

1858
JAG preaches monthly for Newtown, Georgetown, Cane Ridge and Cooper’s Run, and 5th Sundays at Leesburg. (R., p. 192)

1859
JAG preaches monthly for Newtown, Georgetown, Cane Ridge, and Cooper’s Run, and other mission meetings. (R., p.195)

1859
JAG attends the annual meeting of the American Christian Missionary Society - only recorded visit - no record of JAG’s supporting the ACMS, and his son, RMG, opposed it in Texas (R., p.179)

1860
JAG preached regularly for Newtown, Cooper’s Run, Cane Ridge and Berea. (R., p.195)

1860
August
JAG goes on a preaching tour of Missouri (R., p.195)

1861
JAG preaches regularly for Newtown, Cooper’s Run, Leesburg, and Berea. (In April, the Civil War begins) (R., p.196)

1862-1865
JAG remains a pacifist during the war, but his son RM becomes General for the Confederate Army in Texas (R., p.197)

1863
July 28
William Conn Gano, the son of JAG and Mary dies. (R., p.199)

1877
July 7
A reunion held at Old Union JAG attends to mark 50 years of his conversion. (R., p.64,65,201)

1877
August 4
Mary Eliza “Mollie” Buckner, baby of the family died at the age of 29. Survived was her husband, John Buckner and four children. (R., p.72)

1877
October 18
Early in the month JAG became seriously ill. Yet he was still preaching at Newtown, Old Union and Leesburg when he could. John Allen Gano passes at 6 A. M. on Friday, October 18, 1887 at the age of 82. Funeral at Bellevue the following day with J.W. McGarvey and others speaking. Burial followed at Georgetown Cemetery in the Gano family plot (R., p.201f)

1891
Mary Catherine dies at Bellevue. (R., p. 70)

1905
December 24th
Howard Hughes is born in Houston, Texas. He is the son of Howard and Allene Gano Hughes. Allene is the daughter of W.B. and Nettie Gano. W. B. Is the son of Richard Montgomery Gano, who is the son of John Allen Gano. At one time Howard Hughes was one of the wealthiest men in the world. (R., p.254ff)

R = Rushford, Jerry, "The Apollos of the West," The Life of John Allen Gano, Jerry Rushford's Master's Thesis, Presented at Abilene Christian College, May, 1972

-Scott Harp, 11.18.2020

 


More On John Allen Gano

John Allen Gano Biographical Notebook - Lexington Theological Quarterly, Janary, 1982, PDF

The Life Of John Allen Gano, 1972 Master's Thesis, by Jerry Rushford, PDF

Location Of Grave Of J.A. Gano

John Allen Gano is buried in the Georgetown Cemetery, Georgetown, Kentucky. Heading south from Downtown Georgetown on Hwy. 25 toward Lexington, the cemetery will be on your left. Go into the cemetery, and the grave is not far in on the left hand side. Also buried in the cemetery is Thornton F. Johnson, Founder of Bacon College. The GPS location of the grave is: 38°11'50.8"N 84°33'35.2"W / or D.d. 38.197441,-84.559765


Georgetown Cemetery
Incorporated 1850, with 31 acres
purchased by 1869. Tombstones older
than 1860 reflect reinterment from
other graveyard. Buried here are
Kentucky governors Joseph Desha and
James F. Robinson. Confederate gov.
George W. Johnson, equine artist
Edward Troye, educator Thornton
Johnson, Dr. Wm. Loftus Sutton,
and reformer Anne Payne Coffman.
-Presented by City of Georgetown & Cem. Board

Thornton F. Johnson John Allen Gano


Georgetown Cemetery Map (Hover Over Red Numbers Above To Identify Location)


Approach To Gano Grave Near Cemetery Entrance


First tall obelish straight ahead


Mary E.
Daut. of
J.A. & Mary C. Gano
Born
June 10, 1848
Baptized Into Christ
July 1860
Married To
John W. Buckner
October 17, 1865
Died
August 4, 1877
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.


Many Graves Surrounding Gano Monument Bears
That They Were Baptized Into Christ"

John Allen Gano
Born
July 15, 1805
Died Oct. 14, 1887
An Eloquent, Faithful, and Suc-
cessful Minister of the Gospel
For More Than Sixty Years.
Gone Home
He Was A Model Husband
Father And Christian.
Mary Catherine Gano
Born Sept 8, 1810
Died:

GANO

Personal Reflections & Special Thanks: I first visited the grave of John Allen Gano in the late 1980s. I was a student at International Bible College, now Heritage Christian University. Charlie Wayne Kilpatrick took groups of students to Restoration Movement locations, and in that way I visited the graves of men we had studied in our classes. It was like putting a face to the name. Over the years I have conducted bus tours of the Restoration Movement. Georgetown has always been a favorite spot for me. Some years ago, I had the privilege of meeting and befriending Jerry Rushford. I visited in his California home, and visited Pepperdine University campus with him. It was a great pleasure. At the time we discussed his Master's Thesis on John Allen Gano. He allowed me to scan this great volume and make it available on this site. The link is above so you can download the .pdf version of it for free. It is a most informative read. Recently, I read it again, and this time went through and put together a chronology on the life of John Allen Gano. You can view that Chronology above. Many thanks to Jerry, and many others, who, through the years have exposed to the world the life and contributions of John Allen Gano. - Scott Harp, 11.18.2020

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