▁D augh ter ▁of ▁El sa ▁and ▁Gib ▁Evans , ▁she ▁serves ▁as ▁a ▁nur se ▁in ▁Europe ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁and ▁eventually ▁mar ries ▁her ▁child hood ▁friend ▁T ucker ▁Gordon , ▁thus ▁unit ing ▁the ▁Gordon ▁and ▁R aus ch ▁families . ▁▁ ▁Ludwig ▁Evans ▁– ▁Son ▁of ▁El sa ▁and ▁Gib ▁Evans , ▁he ▁serves ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁and ▁then ▁takes ▁over ▁the ▁operation ▁of ▁his ▁grand father ▁Ludwig ▁R aus ch ' s ▁factory . ▁He ▁mar ries ▁Mel issa ▁Pat ton . ▁ ▁† L ud wig ▁R aus ch ▁Jr . ▁– ▁S ally ▁and ▁Ludwig ' s ▁spend th rift ▁son , ▁who ▁despite ▁his ▁ir respons ibility , ▁re de ems ▁himself ▁somewhat ▁by ▁serving ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁before ▁his ▁death . ▁▁ ▁Paul ▁R aus ch ▁– ▁The ▁young est ▁R aus ch ▁child ▁and ▁S ally ' s ▁favorite , ▁he ▁falls ▁in ▁love ▁with ▁Ellen ▁O ' Ne ill , ▁a ▁young ▁Irish ▁Catholic ▁girl , ▁and ▁gets ▁her ▁pre gn ant ▁while ▁both ▁are ▁under age , ▁leading ▁to ▁a ▁quick ▁marriage . ▁This ▁leads ▁to ▁a ▁family ▁crisis ▁as ▁his ▁father ▁appro ves ▁of ▁the ▁marriage ▁but ▁his ▁mother ▁does ▁not , ▁and ▁briefly ▁est r anges ▁herself ▁from ▁Paul . ▁ ▁Ball ard / Tra vers ▁family ▁ ▁Judge ▁Thomas ▁Ball ard ▁– ▁A ▁reform - mind ed ▁State ▁Supreme ▁Court ▁judge ▁who ▁later ▁res ign s ▁and ▁returns ▁to ▁legal ▁practice ▁in ▁Way nes