Stephen Gano was the youngest son of Stephen Gano (1786-1865) and Martha Quick Gano (1791-1852) and 1 of 15 children. He was born Aug. 1838 and baptized on Dec. 28, 1838.
I will list his siblings here and they will appear below as their Burying sites are discovered. They are: George b.1811, Catherine b.1813, Eliza b. 1815, Abraham b. 1817, Rebecca Voorhees b. 1819, Mary Ann b. 1821, Ellen b. 1822, Martha b. 1825, Joakim b.1826, Jane b. 1828, Magdalen b. 1830, Christopher b. 1832, Sarah b. 1834, and Caroline b. 1835.
In 1850 Steven is 11 yrs old and living in Hillsboro, N.J. with his parents. His father is 64 and a farmer with real estate valued at $4000. Living with them at the time are 5 siblings, 3 older brothers and 2 older sisters. They are: Abraham, Joakim, Christopher, Sarah, and Caroline. The brothers work on the farm.
In 1852 his mother Martha dies.
In 1860 Stephen is 22 and living in Branchburg, N.J. with his older brother George, George’s wife Katherine, 5 nieces and nephews, and a farm laborer named Benjamin Voorhees who may possibly be related.
On Oct. 2, 1864 in Hunterdon Co. N.J. Stephen marries Catherine Lane (b. 1839).
Sometime between 1864 and 1869 he and Catherine have 2 children: William K. b.1866 and Evaline b. 1869. Both are born in N.J..
In 1869 Stephen’s father dies.
In 1870 Stephen and his family show up in Vermillion, Kansas. He is a farmer on his own farm. Living with them is William K. Lane , a carpenter, (quite possibly Catherine’s brother since he was also born in N.J.). Oddly enough living on the adjoining farm is John. C. Lane 35 yrs old, his wife Susan 35 yrs old. 2 children; Henitta 12 yrs old, Aaron 6 yrs old. They too have are all been born in N.J. giving good reason to think that John may have been another brother of Catherine.
In 1875 Stephen is 36, Catherine 35, they are now in Rock Township, Marshall Co., Kansas. William (Willie) is 9, Evaline (Eva) is 6. The value of their new farm is $800.
In Nov. of 1879 They give birth to another daughter “Bertha” in Kansas.
In 1895 (20 years later) They now live in Exira, Iowa. Stephen is listed as a “Merchant”, Catherine “keeping home”. In the same house their daughter Evaline, now 26, her husband A. Voorhees, 34, (also listed as a Merchant) also reside. A. Voorhees is from Indiana. Both families are Presbyterian. *Bertha does not appear on the census.
In 1900 Stephen is 62, Catherine 60, Bertha 20, still living in Exira, Iowa on Washington Street. He is apparently retired from farming and employed in the Hardware business.
In a 1901 business directory he is listed under “Agricultural Implements” as a dealer.
In 1905 he is listed as married, 67, but he is living alone. Possibly an error on the census since Catherine is living with him 5 years later?
In 1910 Stephen and Catherine still live in the Ezira, Iowa house with their daughter Bertha 30yrs old, single and a music teacher at home.
There is very little know what happens after this date. In the Atlantic Cemetery, Cass County Iowa, there is a Gravestone with Katherine L.Gano, Stephen Gano, Bertha Gano, and Eva A. G. Voorhees name on it. There are NO dates. Possibly another gravestone nearby with more info? I have found records that Bertha was born 1879 and died in 1922. Still seeking more information.
*Various records have spelled Catherine or Katherine as his wife's name.
*Very little record was found of what happened to their son William K. who was born 1866.
**It is also thought that the family may have originally been in a Mausoleum that was torn down in 1968. Families were notified of the move (if anyone was still around)and markers were used if possible on the new locations of the graves. This may account for the limited info on the grave stone there now?
***I have also updated the memorials of Catherine, Bertha, and Eve with some additional info.