Stories in this book chronicle the lives of William and Catherine Patterson Snodgrass and seven generations of their descendants. Beginning with WilliamÕs arrival in the New World at the dawn of the 18th century, Snodgrasses were classic pioneers, with each generation forging ahead to the next western frontier. They participated in the expansion of America, fought for liberation from English rule, crusaded for religious freedom, advocated for equal rights for women and minorities, and navigated down the Tennessee River to Alabama, where they were among the original settlers of Jackson County. Our family tree includes farmers, innkeepers, soldiers, authors, newspaper editors, cotton ginners, teachers, postmasters, lawyers, slave owners, abolitionists, merchants, weavers, legislators, Confederates, Unionists, sheriffs, musicians, and authors. Across all generations, five Snodgrass characteristics are clear: independence, fearlessness, realism, loyalty, and a reverence for education.