Linkage as a son of Johnathan Reed and his first wife is speculative, based on three facts: First, that Andrew and Catherine’s daughter Alice was listed in the 1880 census as a sister-in-law of Anderson Alfrey, whose wife was Ellen Reed, daughter of Johnathan Reed and his second wife Zerilda Shropshire. Alice was not really Ellen’s sister, but there was surely some close relationship. Second, that Andrew and Catherine were living next door to Johnathan and Zerilda in the 1870 census. Third, that in 1850 Andrew was living (as a resident farm hand) with Thomas Donathan, who provided surety on the marriage bond for Johnathan and Zerilda.

Bath Co., Ky marriage book 3 records the marriage on 6 May 1856 of Andrew Reed and Katherine Spence.

1850 census of Bath Co., Ky, division 2, enumerated 9 Aug, lists as family #367:
Thomas Donithan, 60, farmer, b. Va; Mary, 60, b. Ky; Abigail, 21; Eda, 18; Andrew Reid, 18, laborer; Thomas Reid, 22, ditto. All except Thomas Donithan born in Kentucky.

1860 census of Bath Co., Ky, Owingsville P.O., enumerated 12 July, lists on p. 111 as family #810:
John Ensor, 39, farmer; Andy Reed, 28, farmer; Catherine, 21; Johnathan, 3; Thomas, 9/12; Thomas, 21. All born in Ky.

1870 census of Menifee Co., Ky, Beaver precinct, Rock House P.O., enumerated 18 July, lists on p. 8 as family #54:
Reed, Andrew, 39, farm hand; Catherine, 30; Johnithan, 13; Thomas, 10; Allice, 8; Peter, 5. All born in Kentucky.

The previous household is that of Johnathan Reed and Zerilda Shropshire, Andrew’s probable father and stepmother.