Shanks, Asbury H

Shanks, Asbury H., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was born in South Carolina in 1808. He joined the Church in 1830, and entered the itinerant ministry in 1831. His ordination of deacon was received in 1833, and that of elder in 1835. After fourteen years of labor, he located, studied law, and graduated from the law department of the Transylvania University. In 1849 he went to Texas, and engaged in the practice of his profession. He was admitted into the East Texas Conference in 1858, but owing to ill health was obliged to superannuate in 1859, and held that relation until his death, Oct. 20, 1868. He was a preacher of great power, a sound theologian, and in the practice of law never compromised his ministerial character. See Minutes of Annual Conferences of M.E. Ch. South, 1868, p. 283.