My Genealogy Hound

WILLOUGHBY K. KISTLER, M. D., is one of the leading physicians of Lehigh County and is located at Germansville, where he has been engaged in practice since 1871. He is a native of this county and was born November 1, 1846, to Jacob M. and Lydia (Kistler) Kistler, also natives of this county, residing during their life in Kistler’s Valley. George Kistler, who is the founder of that branch of the family to which our subject belongs, is said to have located in what is now known as Montgomery County as early as 1745.

The original of this sketch was reared on the farm in Kistler’s Valley, which was in the possession of the family for many generations, and is now owned by his brother, Charles K. Willoughby K. attended the public schools of Lynn Township until a lad of fifteen years, when he entered the academy at Quakertown, and later the Lewisburg Academy in Union County, this state. The knowledge gained therein was supplemented by a course at the Allentown Seminary and the normal school at Kutztown. Young Kistler then taught five terms of school, when the opportunity presented itself for him to carry out his long cherished plan of becoming a physician. With this end in view he read medicine with Dr. F. C. Seiberling, an eminent physician of Lynnville, Pa., and in the fall of 1868 entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1870.

When looking around for a suitable location Dr. Kistler made settlement in Pennsville, Carbon County, where he practiced for a year. He then came to Germansville, soon secured a lucrative patronage and has resided here ever since. He stands very high in professional circles and is connected with the Lehigh County Medical Society. In politics he is a stanch adherent of Republican principles and a strong advocate of public schools. Dr. W. K. Kistler and Miss Emma C. Seiberling, a native of this county, were united in marriage in 1871. The lady is the daughter of Squire Joshua Seiberling, now deceased, but formerly a resident of Seiberlingville, which place was named in honor of his family. To the Doctor and his estimable wife there have been born two children. Clinton J. is now a student in the medical department of the Pennsylvania University, being a member of the Class of ‘95. Prior to entering this institution he was graduated from the Kutztown Normal School. He taught school for two terms before entering the medical school. Minnie M., the daughter, is likewise a graduate of the State Normal School of Kutztown and is at present engaged in teaching in the public schools of Slatington.

Socially our subject is identified with Central Lodge No. 636, I. O. O. F., at Pleasant Corners, in which order he is Past Grand. As a private citizen the Doctor is highly esteemed for his public spirit, personal example and interest in all that is beneficial to his members of the community and the county at large. The Doctor and his family are members of the Lutheran wing of the Heidelberg Church.