Gideon Lanning was a Methodist Circuit Rider.
Lanning was born in New Jersey in 1792. He was raised as a Methodist. In 1800, his family moved to western New York.[1]
Lanning was received on trial as a circuit rider in 1812. That year he was assigned to be the junior rider on the Pompey circuit. In 1813, he was assigned to the New Amsterdam circuit. In 1814, he was assigned to the Newton circuit. In 1815, he was assigned to the Ontario circuit. In 1816, he was given his Elder's orders. That year, he was assigned to the Lyon circuit.[2] In 1817, he was assigned to the Detroit circuit.[3] The Detroit circuit encompassed the whole of Michigan, as well as some of Ohio. Owing to ill health, he left the circuit early, and was replaced by Thomas Harmon.[4]