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From:
Subject: Byron Sistler
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 18:54:11 EST


Byron Sistler, a genealogist who published more than 50 publications on
census records and genealogy in Tennessee, died Friday at Belcourt
Terrace Nursing Home. He was 83. Mr. Sistler was a founder of the Middle
Tennessee Genealogical Society and was a past president of the group.
''Thousands of people use his work every day across the country,
especially here at the state library,'' said Mr. Sistler's son, Sam
Sistler, 33, who co-authored a number of books on genealogy with his
father. ''The impetus was, in 1968 he was working on his own family
history, and discovered how hard it was to look up his own records, so
he started indexing'' state census records. Those who worked closely
with Mr. Sistler described his dry wit and unselfish nature. ''He was a
character,'' said Gale Bamman of Cross Plains. ''He came across rather
blunt at first . but once you stopped and thought about what (he was
saying), it was funny.'' Bamman, who met Mr. Sistler through her
interest in genealogy, said she had known him for more than 40 years.
''There is nobody to compare him with, really - he was a leader in his
field,'' Bamman said. ''When he began indexing census records, there
were very few state census records that had been archived. ''He helped
people working with Tennessee records tremendously, not just people in
Tennessee, but anyone that has had Tennessee ancestors.'' Mr. Sistler
transcribed and published Tennessee census records spanning from 1830 to
1880 and published six volumes of early Tennessee marriage records. He
also wrote and published his own family genealogy, titled Grandfather
was Always a Very Old Man. ''It brings history down to a personal
level,'' Bamman said of Mr. Sistler's work. ''You have to know your past
or there is no way you know where you have been.'' Mr. Sistler's wife,
Barbara, assisted him in running his genealogical publishing business,
Byron Sistler and Associates, before passing the business on to his son.
''He was loved by a lot of people and well-respected,'' Sam Sistler
said. '' He was very forgiving and known for his patience and excellent
work ethic.'' Mr. Sistler had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease
for the past four years. He died peacefully in his sleep, Sam Sistler
said. Along with Sam and Barbara Sistler, survivors include sons Tom
and Nicholas Sistler of Chicago, a daughter, Anne Sistler of Boston, and
four stepchildren. Funeral arrangements were incomplete yesterday, but
a public memorial service is being planned at the Tennessee State
Library in the near future, Sam Sistler said.

[Nashville - Tennessean]

Milly WARD Piros

My mind is lightning one brilliant flash and pooooffffffffffffffffffffff
it's gone.
Rootsweb Administrator for Anderson, Campbell and Fentress Tennessee Counties

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