HISTORY OF KENTUCKY, by Lewis Collins, and J.A. & U.P. James, published 
1847.  Reprinted by Henry Clay Press, Lexington, Ky., 1968, pp. 113-114. 
[Unknown county].

JOHN GANO settled in Kentucky in 1787.  He was one of the most eminent 
ministers of his day.  He ws a native of New Jersey.  He spent many 
years as an itinerant, traveling over the United States, from New 
England to Georgia.  He was pastor for about twenty-five years in the 
city of New York, and his labors were greatly blessed.  During the 
revolutionary war, he was chaplain to the army, and by his counsels and 
prayers greatly encouraged the American soldiery in those times of peril 
which tried men's souls. Many interesting anecdotes are related of him, 
several of which we will quote from Benedict.  One morning, while in the 
army and on his way to pray with the regiment, he passed by a group of 
officers, one of whom (who had his back towards him) was uttering his 
profane expressions in a most rapid manner. The officers, one after 
another, gave him the usual salutation.  "Good morning, Doctor," said 
the swearing Lieutenant.  "Good morning, sir," replied the chaplain; 
"you pray early this morning."  "I beg your pardon, sir." "Oh, I cannot 
pardon you:  carry your case to your God."
        One day he was standing near some soldiers who were disputing 
whose turn it was to cut some wood for the fire. One profanely said, he 
would be d----d if he cut it.  But he was soon afterwards convinced that 
the task belonged to him, and took up the axe to perform it.  Before, 
however, he could commence, Mr. Gano stepped up and asked for the axe.  
"O! no," said the soldier, "the chaplain shan't cut wood."  "Yes," 
replied Mr. Gano, "I must."  "But why?" asked the soldier.  "The reason 
is," answered Mr. G., "I just heard you say that you would be d----d if 
you cut it, and I had much rather take the labor off your hands, than 
that you should be made miserable forever."
        While he resided in New York, he was introduced to a young lady as 
the daughter of a very prominent citizen. "Ah!" replied he, "and I can 
tell a good match for her, and he is an only son."  The young lady 
understood his meaning; she was, not long after, united to this Son, and 
has, for about forty years, been an ornament to his cause.
        Dr. Furman, of Charleston, S.C., who knew him intimately, says:  
"As a minister of Christ, he shone like a star of the first magnitude in 
the American churches, and moved in a widely extended field of action.  
For this office, God has endowed him with a large portion of grace, and 
with excellent gifts.  He believed, and therefore spake."  Having 
discerned the excellence of gospel truths, and the importance of eternal 
realities, he felt their power on his own soul, and accordingly he 
inculated and urged them on the minds of his hearers with persuasive 
eloquence and force.  He was not deficient in doctrinal discussion, or 
what rhetoricians style the demonstrative character of a discourse; but 
he excelled in the pathetic - in pungent, forcible address to the heart 
and conscience. The careless and irreverent were suddenly arrested, and 
stood awed before him, and the insensible were made to feel.  He lived 
to a good old age; served his generation according to the will of God; 
saw his posterity multiplying around him; his country independent, free 
and happy; the church of Christ, for which he felt and labored, 
advancing; and thus he closed his eyes in peace; his heart expanding 
with the sublime hope of immortality and heavenly bliss.  Like John, the 
harbinger of our Redeemer, "He was a burning and a shining light, and 
many rejoiced in his light."  Resembling the sun, he arose in the church 
with morning brightness, advanced regularly to his station of meridian 
splendor, and then gently declined with mild effulgence, till he 
disappeared, without a cloud to intercept his rays, or obscure his 
glory."

Benedict Furman Gano
=
GA NJ NY SC

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/unknown/gano.j.txt