There are repeated rumors that some of the Couch folk came here from Germany. In a handbook titled "Pioneer Families of Leslie County" by Sadie W. Stidham, p. 153, it is said "The Couches are of German-French descent.....Martin Couch immigrated from Germany to America and settled first in North Carolina..." Doesn't make a lot of sense, but there is the reference. I've also heard tales that John and Martin came to America -- went back to Germany, and returned again. To date, I have seen no documented evidence (other than Ms. Stidham's claim) that either John or Martin were from Germany. My father claimed there were two separate Couch clans in SE KY, but I have no real evidence this is true. There was a Couch family bible that held answers, but it was supposedly destroyed in a house fire. We jusy need to keep digging -- maybe the answer to our questions is closer than we think. Ron Couch