Dr. ALVIN JACOB KISTLER, a distinguished specialist in the practice of medicine at Philadelphia, was born in "Kistler Thai" on the old homestead in Lynn township, Lehigh county, on Feb. 21, 1876, son of Charles and grandson of Jacob. He received his early education in the local schools and became one of the first graduates of the district from the public high school. He then attended the East Stroudsburg Normal School and other preparatory schools, for the purpose of qualifying himself as a teacher, and upon receiving a teacher's certificate, he taught public schools at Lynnville and Stein's Corner for two terms.

While teaching he pursued a course of reading medicine, and in the fall of 1898 entered the Jefferson Medical College. He pursued his studies there for four years and was graduated in 1902, and upon passing a successful examination before the Board of Examiners at Philadelphia, he located at Reading and opened an office in August of that year, and there carried on a preliminary practice for four years. For the next two years he was located at Lehighton. Then he took a post-graduate course of two years at the Polyclinic Hospital and the Jefferson Hospital for the purpose of qualifying himself particularly as a specialist, and with this preparation he located at Philadelphia, where he has since carried on an active and successful practice in the treatment of particular diseases, his office being at 668 North Eleventh Street.

In 1902 he was married to Ida L. Moser, of Lynnville, Lehigh County, daughter of William F. Moser and his wife Mary, nee Bachman. They have two children: Charles William, born in 1905; and Mark Moser, born in 1908.