History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 131

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948


USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 131


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


659


mained on the homestead after his father's death. The name John runs through at least five genera- tions, and the trade of blacksmith follows it. John's children were: John William, born May 29, 1757 ; and Abraham, born Dec. 20, 1761, who is the ancestor of the Perry county Kistlers for


to as George Kistler, Sr., he doubtless had a son George. The archives of Pennsylvania show that a George Kistler served in the Continental army during the Revolution. Philip, born Oct. 19, 1745, died Aug. 28, 1809. He had nine children : Jacob, John, Ferdinand, Philip, Jonathan, Bar-


HERE REST THE JOHN GEORGE


AND HIS WIFE


ANNA DOROTHEA WHO WERE BORN IN THE PALATINATE GERMANY CAME IN THE SHIP TOWNSHEND


AMSTERDAM TO PHILADELPHI OCT. 5. 1737 LIVED FOR JO YEARS AT FALKNER SWAMP OR GOSHENGEPRES MONTGOMERY CO. PAS SECE YEDA WEERA


JOHN CEDA


'S


THIS MEMORIAL WAS MADE AT THE MARBLE AND GRANITE WORKS OF GW RAMER KUTZTOWN, PA


JOHN GEORGE KISTLER MEMORIAL.


whom Kistler post-office has been named. A de- scendant, Rev. Dr. John Kistler, has for many years been professor at the oldest Lutheran Theo- logical Seminary in America, located at Hart- wick, N. Y. George remained in Berks county. In 1779 he was the owner of 248 acres of land and a grist-mill. In 1778 he was elected elder of the Allemangel church, and as he was referred


bara, Maria, Catharine, and Elizabeth. Of these, Jacob was a lieutenant in the War of 1812. Mi- chael moved to Ohio, and is the ancestor of the large Kistler settlements in Indiana. His family consisted of John, Michael, Joseph, Nathan, Mon- roe, Salome, and Judith. Samuel was the young- est son of his father. Barbara married (first) a Brobst, and (second) Michael Mosser, of Low-


660


HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


hill. Dorothea married Michael Reinhart. Eliz- abeth married a Mr. Keller, near Hamburg, Pennsylvania.


Samuel Kistler, son of John George, was born Sept. 20, 1754, and died April 24, 1822. He was an extensive land owner. In 1803 he built a very substantial stone mansion in Kistler's Valley, which remained his home to the time of his death, and which has until recently been the property of his descendants. He built the Kistler mill near Tripoli. For many years he was an elder of the Jerusalem church, and it was while he held that office that the present house of worship was erected, 1812-14. All these buildings erected about a century ago, stand as firmly to-day as though they had been built in recent years. Sam- uel Kistler was twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth Ladich, bore him three children, and his second, Catharine Brobst, twelve. These were: Barbara, married Henry Sunday, and is buried at Dunkel's church; Jacob S., father of Samuel J., who was a delegate to the national con- vention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, is buried at the Jerusalem church ; Samuel is buried at Tripoli church; John S. is buried at Jerusalem church; Michael died in Ohio; Christian is buried at Tripoli; Daniel and David both died in West Penn, Schuylkill county ; Jesse died in Ohio; Levi is buried at Jacob's church, Jacksonville, Pa .; Charles is buried at Newton Falls, Trumbull county, Ohio; Maria Elizabeth, married Jacob Snyder, and died in Ohio; Catharine, married George Weida, and died in Lowhill; Salome, married Jacob Mosser, the tanner, and died in Allentown; and Magda- lene, married Solomon Mosser, and is probably buried at Lynnville. The descendants of Samuel Kistler are scattered all over the United States. Many of them have become successful business and professional men. An unusually large num- ber are physicians and ministers of the gospel.


Jacob S. Kistler, son of Samuel, and grandson of John George, was born Oct. 5, 1781, was jus- tice of the peace, and held other offices, and died Oct. 7, 1845. He married Anna Barbara Bausch, who died Nov. 19, 1867. He left sixteen chil- dren: John J .; Jacob; Nathan; Stephen S .; David; Jonas; Charles; and Catharine, married to Reuben Buck, are all buried at the Jerusalem church ; Reuben, died in Louisville, Ky .; Salome, married to John Hermany, is buried at Jackson- ville, Pa .; Mary, married to Elias Wertman, died at Peoria, Ill .; Lydia, married to Daniel Long, is buried at New Ringgold, Pa .; Elizabeth, lives at Saegersville, Pa .; Anna Fena, married to Charles Lenhart, is buried at Bethel church in Albany township ; Helena, second wife of Daniel Long, died in Atchison, Kan .; and Samuel J., associate


judge of Lehigh county, member of the State Leg- islature, justice of the peace for many years, and family historian, is buried at the Heidelberg church, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania.


Stephen S. Kistler, son of Jacob S., was born in Kistler's Valley, Dec. 16, 1817, and died March 13, 1874. He was married to Abigail Brobst. They had eight children: Philip, William S., Mary, Albert and Jacob are buried at the Jeru- salem church; Sarah, married to Harry Stine, lives at Fogelsville; Fianna, married to Emanuel Seidel, is buried at Hamburg; and Samuel, died at Seipstown.


William S. Kistler, son of Stephen S., and great-great-grandson of the emigrant, John George, was born Nov. 15, 1840, and died Sept. 19, 1887. He served nine months in the Civil War. He was married to Maria Grim, daughter of Reuben Grim, and his wife, Sarah Wanner. They bought the old Kistler homestead where their eight children were brought up. These are: Jesse, a physician at Allentown ; Elmer, who was for many years a school teacher of Lynn town- ship, and is now a justice of the peace; William U., pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran church, Penns- burg, and St. John's, Spinnertown, Pa .; Charles E., pastor of Alsace Lutheran church, Reading Pa .; Stephen O., who remained on the old home- stead ; Mary, married to Dr. A. F. Baver, Stony Run, Pa .; and Sallie and Kathryn, who live with the mother at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa. It may seem remarkable that so many out of the family have entered professions. This is, however, nothing unusual with the Kistlers. Four sons of William B. Kistler have entered the medi- cal profession, and three sons of Jacob Kistler have done the same.


ELMER C. KISTLER, justice of the peace, farm- er, and prominent citizen of Lynn township, was born in the Kistler Valley, May 18, 1866, and obtained his education in the common schools of the district, and also in the Lynnville and New Tripoli academies. When nineteen years of age he was licensed to teach in the public schools and he taught twenty-one terms in Lynn township, one term in Weissenberg and one term in the borough of Lenhartsville, in Berks county, mak- ing altogether twenty-three terms. He has held a permanent certificate from the state superintend- ent for a number of years.


Having been brought up as an agriculturist, Squire Kistler has carried on farming operations where he lives since May 2, 1907, with great success and he has been recognized as one of the most enterprising farmers in the township. His place is equipped with the latest improved farm- ing machinery, and annually he raises large creps of potatoes. His farm is generally known as the


٠٠


Fay by Lle Williama &, Ber NY.


A. L. Kistler


661


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


"Kistler Farm." Its early owner was Samuel Kistler, who was succeeded by his son John, and John by his son, William B. A large stone dwell- ing on this farm was built by John Kistler in 1858. A log barn, which was built about the time of the Revolution, was destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving night, 1906. The following year, Elmer C. Kistler erected the present barn, 100x40 feet. An historic house on this property is mentioned in the descriptive history of the township.


The squire's political affiliations have been with the Republican party. In 1900 he was appointed census enumerator of the township and he served this appointment with efficiency. From the time he became of age he has helped to hold the annual elections, excepting when his own name was on the ticket for an office. In 1903 he was elected justice of the peace of the Lynnville district, and in 1908 re-elected. Naturally, since 1903, he has become recognized and called as the "Squire," or "Squire Kistler." Under the old delegate system he frequently represented his district be- fore the county conventions; and he has served as a United States juror in the Corcuit Court at Philadelphia. He has identified himself with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


Squire Kistler and his family are Lutheran members of the New Jerusalem church, which he has served as a deacon, and since 1909 has been serving as an elder.


He was married in 1888 to Annie Reinert, daughter of Adam and Amanda (Wolf) Rein- ert, and they have three children: George E., who died in infancy; Emma M., a graduate of the township schools, also educated under the tutelage of her father, and a public school teacher since 1908 ; and William A.


Squire Kistler has been secretary of the Kist- ler Family Re-union Association since its organ- ization. This flourishing association was begun in 1898, by Miss Sallie Kistler, of Allentown, a sister of the Squire.


STEPHEN O. KISTLER, an enterprising and suc- cessful farmer in the Kistler Valley, was born on his father's homestead, Sept. 23, 1872, and having been reared on a farm, he has followed this voca- tion. He secured his farm of 182 acres in 1905. On it there is a Swiss barn which was erected in 1899, the dimensions being 40x100 feet, and the superior management of the place is reflected in its fine general appearance. The Kistler Valley is noted far and wide for its exceptional fertility of soil, abundant crops, attractive homes and well- painted barns, and its prosperous farmers, and Mr. Kistler's farm is among the best.


Mr. Kistler was married on May 11, 1899, to


Mary E. Rabenold, daughter of Peter and Jane (Bortz) Rabenold, of Weissenberg township, and they have one child, a daughter, Edna J. He and the family are members of the Lutheran con- gregation at the New Jerusalem church, which has been the religious home of nine succeeding generations of this great and influential family ; in which he has served as a deacon. In politics, Mr. Kistler is a Republican.


Daniel S. Kistler, a son of Samuel and Maria (Brobst) Kistler, was born in Kistler's Valley. After his marriage to Magdalena Mosser, he moved to West Penn township, Schuylkill county, where he conducted a large farm, which was later divided into three farms for his three sons. Mr. Kistler was an active member of the Luther- an Church. Mr. and Mrs. Kistler had these children: Charles ; Daniel; John; Noah ; David ; Hettie; who married David Zehner, and resides near Orwigsburg, Pa .; Katie, who married Rev. B. F. Bohner, a minister of the Evangelical church of Allentown, Pa .; and the wife of Rev. Daniel Yingst, whose son, John, is a business man at Eleventh and Hamilton streets.


Charles M. Kistler, a successful business man of West Penn township, Schuylkill county, was born July 4, 1824. Up to 1869 he was engaged in the milling business, operating what is yet known as "Kistler's Mill," located on Lizard creek. He was further occupied in the operation of a saw-mill on a farm consisting of 200 acres. In 1869 he retired and moved to Allentown, where he died, May 6, 1888, aged 63 years, 9 months and 2 days.


Mr. Kistler was a man of strong Christian character and was active in the Evangelical Church, which he served in its various offices, being class-leader at the time of his death.


His wife was Elizabeth Peters, a daughter of Joseph Peters. She was born Nov. 19, 1823, and died Feb. 27, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Kistler are buried on Union cemetery, Allentown, Pa. Their children are: James A .; Charles A .; Sarah E., who married L. H. Mertz; Henrietta, Emma S., and Mary M., who died in childhood; Carrie, wife of S. P. Swartz; S. Lizzie, wife of Rev. J. G. M. Swengel; and Dr. Abraham L., whose history follows.


DR. A. L. KISTLER.


Abraham Lincoln Kistler, M.D., an eminent homeopathic practitioner, residing at the north- east corner of Ninth and Linden streets, Allen- town, Pennsylvania, is a native of Schuylkill county, Pa., was born Nov. 19, 1862, son of Charles M. and Elizabeth (Peters) Kistler.


.


662


HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


The public schools of Allentown afforded the early intellectual training of Dr. Kistler, graduat- ing from the city high school in 1879, at the age of seventeen, and from Hahnemann Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, in 1883, with honors. After his graduation from this famous medical institu- tion, Dr. Kistler located at Allentown, in which city he built up a very large and successful prac- tice. He is a specialist on diphtheritic and fever cases and his success in these lines of practice has been phenomenal. As a diagnostician he ranks pre-eminent.


For a number of years Dr. Kistler has been on the non-resident consulting staff of the Women's Homeopathic Hospital, at Philadelphia, which is one of the leading hospitals of that large city. In 1914, the board of Trustees of the Ritters- ville State Hospital appointed him the resident consultant. He has membership in the following medical societies: Lehigh Valley Homeopathic Medical Society, Pennsylvania State Medical So- ciety, and the American Institute of Homeopathy. His fraternal and social connections are with Jor- dan Lodge, No. 673, F. & A. M .; the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, No. 110; and the Liv- ingstone Club, the leading social organization of Allentown.


Dr. Kistler married, June 21, 1893, Miss Agnes S. Huber, daughter of the late Walter P. Huber, whose full history appears elsewhere in this volume. Dr. and Mrs. Kistler are mem- bers of Bethany United Evangelical church, both are active in church work. Mrs. Kistler is one of the very active members in the missionary cause, and Dr. Kistler has been the efficient and esteemed leader of the Bethany choir since 1904. In fact, in music the doctor finds his greatest pleasure and relaxation, having been associated with the late and lamented Prof. Clement A. Marks, Musc. D., in the organization and prep- aration of the Enterpean Club and the Oratorio Society. Dr. Kistler had been the president of the latter organization from its birth and has taken the keenest interest in it and attended very regularly its rehearsals and all the concerts, with one exception, when sickness prevented, up to 1913, when he reluctantly resigned, owing to the death of Dr. Marks, its founder and the co- worker of Dr. Kistler. The intimacy and near- ness of Dr. Marks and Dr. Kistler was like unto that of Damon and Pythias, and as a result of the death of the former, the latter withdrew his connections from all musical activities except that of the church choir.


Michael Kistler was born in 1790, resided in Lynn township. He was a tanner and farmer in Kistler's Valley. Most of his sons followed their


father's trade. He was a member of New Jeru- salem church, where he was buried. He died in 1872.


Michael Kistler married Magdalena Brobst. Issue : Nine sons and six daughters, viz : Stephen ; Perry (or Perez), Sallie, Rudolph, Jacob, Joel, Polly, Mary, Hannah, Daniel, William, Michael, Jr., Angelina, Catherine, and Reuben. Sallie married (first) Reuben Wannamaker, (second) Stephen Snyder. Polly married Elias Sechler. Mary married (first) Jonas Billig, and (second) Charles Faust. Angelina, born May 1, 1835, married Peter Seip. Reuben and Hannah died young. Catherine married Daniel Brobst.


Stephen Kistler, son of Michael and Magda- lena (Brobst) Kistler, was born on the family homestead in Kistler Valley. He learned the tanning trade from his father. He removed to Lehighton and later to Stroudsburg, where he died, and is buried there on the family plot, where a large monument has been erected. Steph- en owned tanneries in Lehighton, Carbon county ; at Tannersville, Bartonsville, Sciota and Strouds- burg, in Monroe county ; at Lock Haven, in Clin- ton county; and Great Bend, in Susquehanna county, Pa. He employed several hundred people. He had established a large leather store in New York. He dressed so plainly that no one sup- posed he was almost a millionaire. Once, when a ship load of hides from South America was to be sold at auction in New York. He started to bid on the hides. When the rich dealers noticed this they thought they would let the poor man have a few at his own price, and out of pity for him they stopped bidding. When the auctioneer asked him how many he wanted at that price, he said to the consternation of everybody there, "I take them all."


Five years after his death his sons removed the New York store to Boston, where his son Wilson now carries on an extensive business and also con- ducts a chain of tanneries.


The children of Stephen Kistler and his wife, Esther Mosser follow: Charles, deceased ; Rufus, of St. Paul, Minn .; Elmira and Angelina, both deceased, are buried at Weissport; Wilson, of Lock Haven; Alfred ; Milo, of Tannersville ; and Michael, who lives in South Carolina.


Charles Kistler, son of Stephen, was married to Anna E. Kistler and they had issue: Emma; Catharine, Caroline, and Oscar, all deceased ; Mary is married to Dr. John H. Lesh, a leather merchant in Boston, Mass. They have a daugh- ter, Mary Olga Lesh. Andrew M. married Ernestine Huebner, of Bethlehem. Issue : Charles E., and John F. Kistler. Perez (or Perry) Kistler, son of Michael and Magdalena


663


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


(Brobst) Kistler, had issue: Nathan, Floranda, Kathryn, Diana, and Emmeline. Nathan had sons, William and Richard. He was for many years chorister of the church at Grimville. Jacob Kistler, son of Michael and Magdalena (Brobst) Kistler, was born at Kistler Valley. His children were: Charles, Dr. Willoughby, Dr. James, DI Jacob, Sarah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Amelia, Ella, and Mary Kistler. Willoughby and his son, Clinton, are practicing medicine at Lehighton. Joel Kist- ler, son of Michael and Magdalena (Brobst) Kistler, was born in Kistler Valley. His children were: James, William, Emma, Mary, Ella, and Elmira. William was a graduate of Muhlenberg College, class of 1881. He was drowned in cross- ing the Rio Grande river in Texas, Aug. 7, 1884. Daniel Kistler, son of Michael and Magdalena (Brobst) Kistler, was born in Kistler Valley. He resides at West Penn, Schuylkill county. His children were: Elmira, Fianna, and William W., since 1894 pastor of the Coopersburg Lutheran parish. William Kistler, son of Michael and Magdalena Kistler, was born in Kistler Valley. His children were: Emmeline, Medina, Thomas, Robert, and James. Michael Kistler, Jr., son of Michael and Magdalena (Brobst) Kistler, was born in Kistler Valley. He served as lieutenant in the Civil War, and was for many years post- master at Stroudsburg, Pa. His son, Hiram, served several terms as burgess of Stroudsburg. Michael, Jr., had children : Albert, Hiram, Stephen, Miranda, Irene, and Elmira Kistler.


WILLIAM JACOB KISTLER, electrician at Rit- tersville State Hospital, son of Rev. W. W. Kist- ler, of Coopersburg, was born Nov. 3, 1895, at Coopersburg, where he attended the public schools, and then having inclined to the study of electricity, he followed a special course of study on this branch for three years in the Philadelphia School at the corner of Broad and Spring Gar- den streets; and prosecuted further study for a year at Schenectady, N. Y., when he returned to his home. After remaining there for a time directing his special attention to the electric wir- ing of buildings, he was selected as the chief electrical engineer of the Rittersville State Asy- lum, which position he has filled until the present time. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and of the International Brotherhood of Electri- cal Workers, Local No. 140.


Matthias Kistler, son of Jacob and Catharine Kistler, was born Sept. 13, 1787, died Nov. 13, 1861. He became a farmer, weaver, and apple- jack distiller in the western end of Kistler Val- ley. He owned the homestead of 100 acres, now the property of John Rubrecht. At an early period he erected a two-story building on this farm, the first story was used for a distillery,


and the second for weaving purposes. This build- ing, about a century old, was razed in 1903. It stood about fifty feet south of the present dwell- ing. His son, Jacob, succeeded to the homestead, who continued apple-jack distilling for many years, often being assisted by his good wife, Polly, born May 14, 1833, who has her home with her daughter, Mrs. John Rubrecht.


Matthias Kistler married the first time, Mag- dalena, born May 6, 1789, died Nov. 18, 1838. He married again, Gertrude Werley, born Oct. 24, 1788, died Nov. 7, 1847. Both were buried at the Frieden's church at Wessnersville. He had children : Michael; Daniel; Jonas; Jacob ; Polly, who married Isaac Schuman ; Lydia, married Henry Croll; and Elizabeth, who mar- ried (first) Daniel Long, and (second) Jacob Snyder.


Daniel Kistler, son of Matthias and Magda- lena Kistler, was born July 26, 1870, in Kistler Valley. He was reared on the farm and was edu- cated in the schools of his township. In his early manhood he was a farmer in Lynn township, Le- high county, one and one-half miles northeast of Wessnersville. In later years he became a mer- chant in the same township near where Samuel Howerter now resides. He was very successful in his business. He died Oct. 20, 1858, and was interred at Wessnersville.


Daniel Kistler married Eva Snyder. Issue : Jeremiah, of Weissenberg; William; Daniel (1822-1824) ; and Sallie, who married Dr. Mad- den.


William Kistler, son of Daniel and Eva (Sny- der) Kistler, was born in 1825, in Lynn town- ship. By occupation he was a tombstone cutter. He lived in Lynn township about one and a half miles from Stony Run. He was a member of Frieden's church. He died in 1892.


William Kistler married Judith Wink. Issue : R. Amanda, married Alonzo Easterday, of Atchi- son, Kansas; Henry A .; Jackson; Levi F .; and Samuel, died young. Henry A. was a farmer and school teacher. He taught for twenty-one years in Lynn township. He also raised 2,000 to 4,000 bushels of potatoes per year.


Nathan Kistler, son of Jacob S., spent all his life in Kistler Valley, except three years, during which he lived in Albany township. He was a successful farmer. He was married to Catherine Dietrich, a sister to the wife of his brother, John J. They had eleven children, eight of whom lived to ripe ages, as follows: Caroline, deceased wife of William Smith; Elizabeth, married Samuel Howerter ; Catharine, married Daniel ; Lydia, married to James Fetherolf, of Albany township; Samuel, a lumberman of Rosette, Kan- sas; Edwin D., for many years a successful mer-


664


HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


chant at Wessnersville, Berks county; Nathan, who conducted a large meat market in Atchison, Kansas ; William, a farmer in Atchison, Kansas ; Mary, married to A. B. Ulrich, of Baxter Springs, Kansas ; and two died when young.


John J. Kistler, a son of Jacob, was born in Lynn township, and died in January, 1861, aged 58 years. He is buried at New Jerusalem church. He lived in the upper end of Kistler's Valley, where he had a large farm, which was his father's homestead. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, served various offices and was one of the organizers of the Lynnville Sunday school.


He was married to Elizabeth Dietrich, a daugh- ter of Michael Dietrich, of Klinesville. She died in December, 1892, aged 64 years. Their chil- dren are: Nathan, who died at the age of nine- teen years; John D .; Henry D .; Reuben; Abra- ham D. Levi, of Sylvan Grove, Kansas; Sarah, who married William Sassaman, a school teacher, and resides in Kansas; Julia, who married (first) George Stetler, and (second) Joel Stump; Ru- fena, who married Reuben Zimmerman ; Eliza, who married Edward Kramlich, deceased; and Rebecca, the widow of Lewis F. Bortz, of Allen- town.


John D. Kistler was a farmer at Mossersville, in Lynn township. His homestead is now owned by his oldest son, Allen J. In 1876, he built the present large brick house on that farm. He was born in 1834 and died in October, 1886. He was married to Lucy J. Fetherolf. They are buried at New Tripoli. Their children are: Allen J .; Harry F., a merchant at Lehighton; Milton, of Neffs; Dr. Nelson F .; and John W., both of Allentown.


John D. Kistler married, second, Josephine Kistler, a daughter of William and granddaugh- ter of Christian Kistler. Issue: Wilmer, of New York City.


Henry D. Kistler, a citizen of New Tripoli, and son of John J. and Elizabeth (Dietrich) Kistler, was born April 23, 1836, in Kistler Val- ley. He was reared upon the farm and acquired his education in the local public schools. He fol- lowed the pursuit of agriculture almost continu- ously from 1863 to 1898. In 1911, he sold his valuable 150-acre farm to Orville Rauch. In politics he is a Republican. He and family are members of the Ebenezer church. The Kistler family have held annual reunions since 1899 and Mr. Kistler has always been president of the asso- ciation. He is a man of fine personality.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.