The earliest ancestor proved beyond a reasonable doubt is John EDMISTEN b. PA; md in Adams Co., OH to Mary "Polly" REED/REID Samuel Q. EDMONSON [name fluctuated w/ @10 spellings during his Civil War service and pension papers]...married Susan LUNBECK [dau of Joseph LUNBECK and Lydia REED; md Pike Co. OH 1821, lived in Mt. Vernon Furnace, Lawrence Co, OH] Edward Montgomery EDMONSON md Nancy PYLE in Bracken Co., KY Thomas EDMONSON md 2nd Helen Emelia RICHWINE My John EDMISTEN as far as can be determined is NOT the same John EDMISTEN who married Julia Ann McCOY; one was living in the 1850 census...and one was not; both had children born between 1830 and 1850 census. There were other males born to John and Samuel, but no known male offspring. Edward may have had other children, but if so by another wife [Nancy died when Granddad was about 3 or 4]. Now Granddad...did his part to replenish the name...[after first having a daughter] and had three sons, my dad, and two uncle both of whom are still living, so I 'll just do the numbers, not names here. DAD....had five boys...who between them had 8 males to carry on the EDMONSON; there are 3 young men in this next generation...and two of them have sons...so that's a total of 24 EDMONSONS in 5 generations. ....and then there were girls....HA! Nikki EDMONSON NICKELL