BIO:  John Kister, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Newberry Township, Pg 155

JOHN KISTER was born in Newberry Township, York Co., Penn., June 24, 1833, on the 
place where now stands a part of Goldsboro.  His parents were Jacob G. and Nancy 
(Bowen) Kister, natives of York County, of German descent, who had eleven 
children of whom four sons and three daughters grew up, and of whom John was the 
sixth child.  At the age of nineteen years John left the farm, and followed saw-
milling, running a stationary engine in York County, until he was twenty-six 
years old, when he engaged in farming, which he followed eight years.  June 27, 
1863, he enlisted at Harrisburgh, Penn., in Company B, First Regiment 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry – six months’ men – and served until October 8, 
1863.  August 17, 1864, he re-enlisted at Harrisburgh as second sergeant of 
Company B, Two Hundredth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the 
close of the war.  His regiment was connected with the First Brigade, Third 
Division, Ninth Corps, and fought at Fort Steadman, Petersburg, and until Lee’s 
surrender.  At the close of the war he returned to Goldsboro.  In 1867 he quit 
farming, and again ran a stationary engine.  In 1869 he was appointed postmaster 
at Etters, Penn., and has held that office since.  In 1855 he was married, at 
Shiremanstown, Penn., to Hannah Willis, who died January 8, 1867, leaving two 
children:  Frazer and Nora.  The son Frazer is engineer for Mr. Isaac Frazer, 
occupying his father’s old position.  The daughter, Nora, died a short time after 
her mother.  March 10, 1868, Mr. Kister was married, at Goldsborough, to Mrs. 
Catherine A. Wise, daughter of G. C. Wentz, and widow of W. Wise, who was killed 
in the late war.  They had one child:  Robert, who died in infancy.  Mr. Kister 
belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is also a member of the Junior Mechanics; he was 
chief burgess four terms, councilman two terms, and school director two terms.  
He is a Republican.  He owns a farm, is a stockholder in the Star Building & Loan 
Association of York, and keeps a confectionary store in the postoffice building.  
In 1883 he organized the Independent Cornet Band, of Goldsboro, and equipped it 
with uniforms and instruments at his own expense.  He has traveled a great deal, 
but lives now within 300 years of his birthplace.