Weekdays, he was a Brigadier General in the American Civil War.

On Saturdays, he was a medical doctor, who treated the wounded soldiers from various battles.

On Sundays, he was an ordained protestant minister, having baptized more than 5,000 earthly souls.

After all is said and done, General Richard Montgomery Gano also is the great-grandfather of billionaire Howard Hughes (1905-1976), the famous billionaire aeronautics engineer and business magnate.

Gano’s tri-fold job descriptions included being a medical doctor, a brigadier general in the army of the confederate states during the American Civil War, and a protestant minister of the Disciples of Christ.    It was during the Civil War that he battled around Snow’s Hill in DeKalb County.

In the Battle of Snow’s Hill highway marker, it reads, “On April 3, 1863, two Union brigades, under Gen. Stanley advanced to this position to battle a Confederate Division commanded by COL. GANO of Morgan’s Cavalry, ½ mile east on Snow Hill.  Union wounded were taken to William's House, 300 yards to the east.  Union dead were buried 300 yards northeast in unmarked graves.  Confederate dead were buried near the Methodist Church, four miles east in unmarked graves.  Stone breastworks used by the Confederates are still present at the foot of Snow Hill.”

Furthermore, a description of his military service at Snow’s Hill reads, “In September, 1862, Gano’s squadron became the nucleus of the new 7th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment and he was appointed Colonel in General John Hunt Morgan’s new cavalry brigaded.  The regiment took part in all the actions in Gen. Edmund Kerby Smith’s invasion of Kentucky in the fall of 1862,” read Wikipedia.com.  “It culminated in the Battle of Perrysville on October 8, the battle of Lexington on October 17, and the retreat into East Tennessee…. By February, 1863, Gano (still a colonel) was in command of the 1st Cavalry Brigade of General Morgan’s cavalry division.  On April 3, the brigade was attacked at Snow’s Hill, Tennessee by some 8,000 Union infantry and cavalry and was forced to withdraw to McMinnville…”

Born on June 17, 1830 near Springdale in Bourbon Country, Kentucky, Gano was baptized into the church at the age of 10.  He graduated from Bacon College in Harrodsburg, Kentucky at age 15, enrolling there at age 12.  Around age 17 in 1849, Gano completed his courses at Bethany College in Virginia (now West Virginia).  It was in 1850 when Gano graduated from the Louisville Medical University (Kentucky).  This allowed him to practice medicine for about eight years in Kentucky and in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Until 1858 and for two years, he was a physician at the Louisiana State Prison.

Awaiting him in Kentucky was his fiancé, Martha (Mattie) Jane Welch of Crab Orchard, Kentucky.   Married on March 15, 1853, the couple eventually had 12 children with nine surviving to adulthood.  Later in 1859, the large and growing family relocated to Texas, settling at Grapevine Prairie, where Gano began farming, rearing prized livestock, and practicing medicine.

Continuing and in 1860, Gano was elected to represent the county in the Texas legislature.  Later, he resigned his seat to enter the Confederate Army and began active duty as a cavalry captain in January, 1862.  In advancement, he was appointed to colonel of the 7th Kentucky Cavalry and served in the Tullahoma (Tennessee) campaign in June, 1863. It was during this time that he joined forces with John Hunt Morgan, who was very well known in the DeKalb County area.

In Al Overview, a description of the infamous train capture reads, “Confederate Brigadier Generals, Stand Waite and Richard Gano led a raid that captured a large Union supply train in Indian territory during the Civil War.  The attack took place on September 19, 1864 at Cabin Creek, Oklahoma…The raid resulted in the capture of a significant number of supplies and 740 mules, valued at $1.5 million in 1864 or $75 million in today’s pricing.”

Following the war, Gano returned home to Kentucky and entered the ministry, which lasted for 45 years.  Additionally, he was responsible for importing fine-blooded and prize-winning livestock into Texas, including cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs.  Soon thereafter, he formed a real estate company with his two sons.  He also was a director of the Bankers and Merchants National Bank and was an active member of the United Confederate Veterans.  The majority of his life’s earnings came from the sale of real estate.

Gano died on March 27, 1913 in a suburb of Dallas, Texas of kidney failure.  He was 82-years-old.

There is a question as to whether Gano cut a wider swath as a preacher, a doctor, or a soldier?  The decision rests in the reader’s opinion.

HOWARD HUGHES LINEAGE:

JOHN ALLEN GANO (1727-1804) was a Baptist minister, soldier, patriot, and Military Chaplain.  He also baptized his friend, George Washington at his home, Mount Vernon in Virginia.  He was the father of the first Richard Montgomery Gano.

RICHARD MONTGOMERY GANO: (1775-1815) He was the first Gano with this full name.  He died at age 40.

REV. JOHN ALLEN GANO: (1805-1887) He was the father of Gen. Richard Montgomery Gano.

GENERAL RICHARD MONTGOMERY GANO: (1830-1913) Whom this article is about.  He was the great-grandfather of Howard Hughes, Jr.

WILLIAM BERIAH GANO: (1854-1913) Son of Richard Montgomery Gano.  He was the grandfather of Howard Hughes, Jr.  He had a daughter named:

ALLENE STONE GANO HUGHES – She is the mother of Howard Hughes, Jr.   His father was Howard Robard Hughes, Sr.

HOWARD ROBARD HUGHES: (1905-1976) Married and divorced twice, he had no children and he was an only child.  The Hughes lineage ends here.  Ironically, the billionaire left no Will at his death.