Father unto Many Sons

Is Lee Pate a man of principle or a misguided dreamer? Troubled by the institution of slavery, he uproots his family—wife, Sarah, and sons, Richard, Melvin, and Abel—without notice and heads west. Lee sends his sons back to Tennessee on a quest that will change the relationship between the brothers forever.

In Fort Smith, the Pate family meets the Lewises, a Mormon family fleeing persecution in Missouri. Together, they follow a barely explored trail to the Mexican Province of New Mexico. The travelers face many difficulties, but family struggles prove the most formidable obstacle. Testing the strength of family ties, Father unto Many Sons tells a story as old as time in a new country.