Andrew J. Picklesimer was the oldest son of Thomas and Emily (Stephens) Picklesimer. He was born 1825 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. When he was seven, his parents moved back to Big Mud Lick Creek, a tributary of Big Pain Creek in a section of Floyd County that later became Johnson County, Kentucky. They bought 250 acres at the mouth of Laurel Branch. His father, who was a farmer, stonemason, and ran a blacksmith shop on the farm, died in a well in Prestonburg, Kentucky at the age of 33 when Andrew was 13. His mother never remarried and died in 1885 at the age of 87 at the home of her son Abraham in Carter County, Kentucky.

On May 23, 1848 Andrew was married to Martha J. McKenzie by his uncle John P' Simer, a Justice of the Peace in the newly formed Johnson County. He and Martha moved into a house near his mother on Big Mud Lick Creek leaving the care of his mother's farm to his brother-in-law, Solomon Kimbler, and his younger brother, Abraham.

In 1853 he was among the heirs who sold 1,500 acres of land lying on the waters of Mud Lick Creek to John M. Williams. The adjoining land was known collectively as the Widows P'Simer's farm - the widows being Emily his mother, Rachel his aunt, and Elizabeth, his grandmother.

Andrew and Martha lived for a few years after their marriage on Big Mud Creek in Johnson County, but shortly after the birth of the twins in 1853, they moved to Carter County, Kentucky. While living in Carter County they lived on the farm on Perrys Branch of Tygarts Creek owned by Andrew's younger brother, Abraham.

In 1856, the last year of their residency in Carter County, Andrew owned no land but was assessed for taxes on 1 horse, 3 cattle, and 7 hogs over six months of age. According to the tax records, he had 2 children between "6 to 18" years of age (Francis M. - 7 and Emily -6).

Andrew moved his family to Nat's Creek in Lawrence County, Kentucky in 1857, and was living on Nat's Creek at the time of the 1860 U.S. Census. That census listed the members of the family as "Andrew Pickell" age 36, Martha 31, and the children Francis M. 11, Emily 10, twins John and Sinthia 7, Abraham 5, Lucas 4, Martha 3, and Andrew 1.

The approximate year of birth of the second through the sixth child shown in the beginning was taken from the above 1860 census records. It is known that Francis M., the first child of Andrew and Martha, was born in September 1849 and was not yet 11 years of age at the time of the above 1860 census (June 1, 1860). According to the Lawrence County birth records, Martha was also only 2 years of age in 1860, and Andrew only 6 months old. Therefore the ages given for the other children in 1860 may also be wrong.

According to Ohio Civil War records, "Andrew J. P'Simer enrolled in the 56th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, December 16, 1861, for "three years" service during the Civil War. He was discharged April 25, 1866 at New Orleans, Louisiana. (See Civil War Pension Application).

Lawrence County, Kentucky tax records list Andrew being assessed for taxes on land and livestock for the years 1857 through 1863. In 1863 his assessment was on 60 acres of land on Nat's Creek, 1 horse and 2 head of cattle. He was also listed as having 5 children "6 to 18" years of age in 1863. If the ages of the children given at the time of the 1860 census were correct there should have been 6 children "6 to 18" in 1863 unless one of the older children died prior to that time.

Martha and the children apparently removed from Lawrence County Kentucky sometime in late 1863 or early 1864 while Andrew was still serving in the Union Army. Where they relocated could never be determined, and where Andrew settled following his discharge from the Army in 1866 is yet unknown.