Exploding the Kistler Myths


Here are some commonly-held beliefs about the "original" Kistlers that are either flat wrong or that lack credible evidence to substantiate them.  Many early accounts of the Kistler family, including those published in county histories, historical society journals, family reunion newsletters and individual genealogies, got various individuals mixed up or made unsubstantiated assumptions regarding relationships or European origins.  Previous research by Raymond Hollenbach and Elaine Domeschek Schwar was instrumental in discovering these mistakes.  Additional research has been done in recent decades by Carolyn Buttolph, Willard Workheiser, Bruce Kistler, Patricia Ostwald  and others.   Anyone having documentation either supporting or refuting these beliefs is encouraged to provide the information to The Kistler Family Strongbox.
  • Myth:  Johannes Kistler, George (aka "John George" or "Hanjorg") Kistler, and Johannes Niclaus Kistler are really the same person. English clerks simply spelled the name differently on official documents.
Reality:  Extant records show that Johannes Kistler, George Kistler and Johannes Niclaus Kistler were raising separate families in eastern Pennsylvania about the same time.  An understanding of German naming practices also makes it clear that Johannes, George and Niclaus (their "real" names) were three distinct individuals.  A 1745 road petition contains the signatures of both Johannes Kistler and George (Jurg) Kistler. 

  • Myth:  Johannes Kistler of Albany Township is the son of George (aka "John George" or "Hanjorg") Kistler of Lynn Township.
Reality:  George Kistler had a son Johannes but he was not the Johannes Kistler who settled in Albany Township.

  • Myth:  All American Kistlers are descendants of George (aka "John George" or "Hanjorg") Kistler of Lynn Township.
Reality:  This myth stems from the wording on George Kistler’s grave marker in the Jerusalem Church burial ground in Stoney Run, PA.  Not only were the three "original" families separate lines, they were not the only Kistler families in America and probably not the only Kistler families in Pennsylvania.

  • Myth:  George (aka "John George" or "Hanjorg") Kistler emigrated from Aarberg, Switzerland.
Reality:  This is possible but unproven.  There is no hard evidence to support the contention. The claim appears to be based on a one-page Stammbaum der Familie Kistler von Aarberg by U.E. Kistler of Offenbach am Main, Germany produced in 1938 and included as an appendix to a 1944 genealogy by Mrs. Floride Kistler Sprague of Chauncey, Ohio. This family tree contains a hand-written marginal notation “John George & wife Dorotheo, came to America in 1737.” However, later research indicates that the passenger who arrived in 1737 aboard the ship Townshend was most likely Johannes Kistler of Auerbach, Germany. Most of the friends, neighbors and in-laws of the Kistlers in Albany Township and Lynn Township came from a fairly limited area along the middle Rhine in Germany or Alsace.
  • Myth:  The Kistlers of Berks and Lehigh counties came from Schoharie, New York along with other German families who migrated to Tulpehocken after they lost their property in New York.
Reality:  This is possible but unproven. There is no hard evidence to support the contention.  It is far more likely that these Kistler families came to Berks and Lehigh by way of Philadelphia, where the vast majority of German-speaking immigrants arrived.  Because the Schoharie emigrants resettled in Tulpehocken, it is possible that Johannes Niclaus Kistler was among them but this is unproven.

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