Kistler Family Roots Run Deep In History

Managing Editor/Publisher

Ulysses resident Ken Kistler's family has been in the United States since 1737.

"My fifth great grandfather and his wife came from Sweden and landed in Philadelphia," Kistler said. "They were in that area about 10 years and then they moved to Logan County, Penn. He fought with the British in the French Indian Wars and was alloted land. He got this 7.5 miles of what they call Kistler Valley."

According to Kistler, the land is still referred to as Kistler Valley today.

"He has a creek running through it called Kistler Creek and there is a highway that runs by it called Kistler Valley Road," Kistler said.

Two years ago, Kistler, his five children and their spouses made the journey to Pennsylvania to learn more about their family roots.

"My son, from Dodge City set it all up," Kistler said. "His mother was a Kistler. He set it up and we went to all of these places. We couldn't go in all of them, because they are owned by different people. One that I really wanted to see is called Kistler Mansion, which my fourth great grandfather built himself. He was a stone mason and an engineer. His son, Samuel, was my third great grandfather. He had 33 children and 80 grandchildren - I had five children and that was plenty."

Another relative of Kistler's, Johaness Jeorg Kistler came to Pennsylvania as well. He had six sons and three daughters.

"Five of his sons fought in the American Revolutionary War," Kistler said. "One of them was my fourth great grandfather, Samuel Kistler Senior. There is a flour mill that they built in 1795 it is a four story flour mill."

In 1814 Samuel Kistler, a rock mason and engineer,  his sons and other people built the Jeruselaum Red Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania (photo on page one).

"It is a beautiful church," Kistler said. "There are 143 Kistlers buried in the cemetery behind that church. Some of them were Indian fighters. It was interesting to be able to go through there."

So how did the Kistler family end up in Kansas?

"Samuel Kistler Junior's son, John Jacob Kistler fought in the Civil War," Kistler said. "He was in the Pennslyvania Militia. I assume he fought at Gettysburg. After the war, Kansas was giving out 160 acres of land. He came and settled in Rock, Kan., which is south and east of Wichita about 35 miles. He had 10 children: eight boys and two girls. His oldest son, Josiah Kistler, my great grandfather was the one who came out to Stanton County and homesteaded a quarter of land there. Two of his sons came (another deal where if you homesteaded they gave you 160 acres) - they built sod houses out there and farmed."

George Kistler farmed in Hamilton County and Josiah was in Stanton.

"Josiah had seven children," Kistler said. "Two of his sons died. They drowned  in the Walnut River (near Rock, Kan.). There was a bunch of kids the oldest one was seven and the younget was five - they were in too deep of water and drowned."

Kistler said his great great great grandmother Mary is buried in Atkins Cemetery.

"There are nine Kistlers buried there," he added. "Josiah, my great grandfather, him and two of his sons moved to Stanton County homesteaded there in 1945. My dad moved from the farm into Johnson and I moved from Johnson to Ulysses in 1969 with my five children."

All five of Kistler's children attended school in Ulysses.

"My one daughter's son played football for K-State," Kistler said. "I think he has the second most rushing in the State of Kansas - second most touchdowns. He has a school record here in shot and disc. He is quite a kid."

Kistler said he wouldn't know much about his family's history if not for his step-daughter Marci Stringham.

"Marci bought me a book called The Kistlers of Kistler Valley," he said. "My son has it in Kentucky. There is a lot of stuff in there about Kistlers from the beginning. There are Kistlers all over the United States."

From the book The Kistlers of Kistler Valley:

This book describes in colorful narrative (featuring over 350 historical and modern images) the origins of the Kistler family, original PA Dutch settlers of Kistler Valley, PA, and their contemporary extensions throughout North America. Complemented by a full index of military service, with details of over 300 family veterans who have served from the colonial Indian wars to present. Also included are the stories of "allied families"--those linked to the Kistlers by various means. These include: The Kings, Lindleys, Liebenderfers, Bartletts, Herricks, Liebenderfers, Wottrings, Pattons, Leightys, Smiths, Hares, Shallenbergers, Fikes, Collinses, Sutmans, Greens, Torettis, Gawreluks, Hoffmans, Fogels, and Langenheims.

The book contains origins of the Kistler family, original PA Dutch settlers of Kistler Valley, Penn., and their contemporary extensions throughout North America. It includes details of over 300 family veterans who have served from the colonial Indian wars to present. Also included are the stories of "allied families"--those linked to the Kistlers by various means. These include: The Kings, Lindleys, Liebenderfers, Bartletts, Herricks, Liebenderfers, Wottrings, Pattons, Leightys, Smiths, Hares, Shallenbergers, Fikes, Collinses, Sutmans, Greens, Torettis, Gawreluks, Hoffmans, Fogels, and Langenheims.

The Kistler Valley, part of Lynn Township, traces it roots to the birth of America, back to the immigration of Johaness (John) Jeorg (George) Kistler who came to America in 1737, immigrating through Amsterdam from Palatinate Germany.

John George Kistler fought in the French Indian War, his five sons, Jacob Kistler, Samuel Kistler Brobst , John Kistler, George Kistler, and Philip, fought in the American Revolution.

A monument to the Kistler family exists along the Kistler Valley Road, of whom the valley is named. The monument is located near the intersection of Kistler Valley and Hummingbird Roads. A picture of the monument follows as well.