The story of a family that came from Ireland to South Carolina and migrated west to Alabama and to Texas. Fascinating characters populate the tale. Methodist lay preacher George Shanks built his farm on the Pee Dee River in colonial Civil War. His children followed the Federal Road to Pike County, Alabama. Son William Terry started as a Methodist preacher but converted to Baptist. Married four times, William Terry ultimatelys followed the oldest son of his second wife, Terry Tarpley, to Texas in 1872. Confederate veteran Terry Tarpley Shanks founded his own dynasty in Brazoria County, Texas and his son William Frederick and grandson T.J. Shanks made their mark in south Texas.