----Source: The 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin

THOMAS SHANKS (November 25, 1819 - March 19, 1892)

Thomas Shanks, early settler of Unity Township, and for many years one of its leading men, came to Wisconsin from Ohio, with his wife, Louisa Larabee, and settled in Fond du Lac County, where she died in 1864, and where, in 1866, he married Elizabeth Thompson. In 1871 he brought his wife and children--Henry, Thomas, Nelson, Jane and Sarah M.--to Clark County, arriving after a journey of seventeen day with an ox team and wagon. At first, Mr. Shanks took a pre-emption claim in Beaver Township, which then included more territory than the present township of that name, but after a short time they left that place and located on a homestead in Section 9, in what is now Unity Township. Besides the children named, who came with them, they had left three others in Fond du Lac County--Celia, Amelia and Barbara, but late in the year Barbara came to Clark County.

The family resided in Unity Township until 1882, when Mr. Shanks retired and, with his wife, took up his residence in Fairchild. He had been chairman of the township one term and was elected for second term, but was forced to resign on account of failing sight. For a number of years, however, he had served as assessor. In the Civil War he had seen service in Texas as a member of the 35th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he enlisted in 1864, his service lasting two years. In his later years he was a member of the G.A.R. Post at Fairchild.