From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1156
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

William Guldner

In giving a history of the Guldner family of central Kansas the life record of William Guldner is the next that claims our attention.  He is the fifth son of the family and came to Rice County twenty-two years ago, when his father established his home in this section of the Sunflower state and with his sons began the work which has resulted not only in great good to the individual members but has been of benefit to the entire community.

William Guldner was born March 1, 1861, and spent his early youth in his native city – Davenport, Iowa, - where he entered the public schools at the usual age.  Reading, experience and observation in later life have also largely added to his knowledge and made him a well informed man.  He was eighteen years of age when he became a resident of Green Garden township, Ellsworth county, where his father first located and there improved a farm and built and operated a grist mill.  In both departments of the work William assisted him, his youth, as his later years, being a period of industry.  He remained at home until twenty-four years of age and then began to improve a tract of raw land, from which he developed an excellent farm. 

As usual with young men who start out upon an independent business career, he sought some one with whom to share his lot and wooed and won Miss Josephine Murphy, the wedding taking place when he was twenty-six years of age.  She has made him a good wife, and their companionship and co-operation has resulted in making a pleasant home.  The lady was born in Perry county, Indiana, a daughter of Abram Murphy, who is also a native of and now resides in Stafford county, Kansas.  Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Guffeney, was born in Belgium, and died in Gentry county, Missouri, at the age of sixty-two years.  They were the parents of eight children:  Andrew, Henry, Belle, Decatur, Angeline, Josephine, Augustus and Joseph.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Guldner is brightened by the presence of one son, Ira W, who was born November 24, 1890.

Mr. Guldner owns a fine farm of four hundred acres and the residence was erected there at a cost of eleven hundred dollars.  There is also a substantial barn, granary, sheds, a windmill, a grove and a bearing orchard, and in addition to these are broad fields of grain, giving promise of abundant harvests.  He keeps stock of good grades and in every particular has a model farm, which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates his careful supervision.  He is successful in his business and yearly adds to his income, so that he is now numbered among the well-to-do agriculturists of Eureka township, Rice County.  He votes with the Democracy or else casts an independent ballot, for he does not consider himself bound by party ties.  He belongs to the Modern Woodmen Camp of Frederick and both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church of Frederick.  He strongly favors education, religion and every movement that tends to uplift mankind and all human progress along material, intellectual or moral lines.