Michael was born in NorthamptonCo, PA where his German immigrant father David settled.  The family obviously maintained its German tradition particularly in language since Michael Girdner's will was written in German and contemporaries said he spoke with a heavy German accent.   According to grandson James Madison Girdner, he served the duration of the Revolutionary War.  Records indicate he served a year as private in 1781-1782.  Grandson James Madison Girdner's memoirs are a rich source of anecdotal and genealogical information within the Michael Girdner family, although probably not accurate to the letter.  J.M. Girdner suggests that his grandfather met and served with the brother of Huldah Beach possibly in Maine or Massachusetts which is the likely means by which he met and married her.  They are believed to have returned to the Girdner home in PA and married sometime after the war ended, but before the birth of first child David Girdner in 1784.  Huldah Beach was the daughter of Nathan and Desire Bixby Beach of BerkshireCo, MA, probably the village of Nobletown, a small town east of Stockbridge, MA east of the New York state line where she was baptised 20 Jan 1766 by Rev. Roger Viets, Rector of St. Andrews, Simsbury, CN. 

Michael and Huldah Beach Girdner and four children came with his father's family to Greene County, TN with two horses and a wagon in 1792 on a seven week journey according to Goodspeeds History of Tennessee.  After Michael Girdner Sr.’s death in 1815, Huldah Beach Girdner married Lewis Ball who died in 1832. A deed transfer from Monroe County in 1832 in which Huldah wills Michael Jr. land in Greene County providing he will take care of her for life indicates that Huldah may have spent her final years with son, Michael Jr., in Monroe County near daughter Nancy and son-in-law Landon McKeehan.  A number of documents in Monroe County indicate that Michael Girdner Jr. and family moved from Greene County to Monroe County, Tennessee the same time as the Landon McKeehan family in 1821.

Map State of Tennessee 1821

1781: Private in Capt. Phillip Shawder's Ranging Company, 10 Feb to 1 Jun 1782. PA Archives, series 3, vl. 23, p. 199, 294; vol. 3, p. 659; series 2, vol. 14, p. 581; Donation land records, book D-42, p. 154, Division of Archives & Manuscripts, Harrisburg, PA.

1792:  Move with family to GreeneCo, TN

1809: GreeneCo, TN:  Michael is willed $4 from father David Girdner.

1809-1817: Michael Girdner/Gurtner appears in court records on several juries and as a witness

1815:  Will of Michael Girdner Sr.  $5000 security bond was required by the court for Michael's will to be probated. The will was in German and translated in GreeneCo court records:

In the name of God Amen.  I, Michael Girdner of the County and State of Tennessee, being low in health but in sound memory and mindthrough the merces of God calling to mind that all men has to once die, I do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament. In the first place I recommend my soul to God that gave it and my body to be buried in a Cristian like manner. Next it is my wish that all my just debts to be paid and then it is my Will that my beloved wife Huldy shall have all my Estate both real and personal to do with as she pleaseth during her natural life and at her death what is left to be sold and equally divided amongst my son Conrad Girdner, Sally Girdner, George Girdner and Nancy Girdner. I also appoint Huldy Girdner and James Allen my sole Executrix and Executors. And I do hereby disannull all and every will and make and publish this to be my last Will and Testament Given under my hand and seal this 12th Day of October 1814. Signed Seal in the presence of Jacob Lince    Martin Linzt

1818: GreeneCo Court Records.  31 Jul Michael Girdner appointed guardian of George and Nancy Girdner, infant heirs of Michael Girdner, decd.

1830: Census Monroe Co Michael Girdner 100001-20001  Males 1 under 5, 1 30-40; females 2 under 5, 1 20-30. 

1830-1831:  GreeneCo, TN.  Huldah Beach Girdner sells 300 acres to David Farnsworth and 300 acres to Conrad Girdner 23 Oct 1830.    9 Feb 1831, she sold 300 acres to her son Michael.

1832: Will of Lewis Ball 12 May 1832 to wife Huldah, to have lands she had before I married her and money owed to me by James Allen in Greene Co. Negroes to be set free. To Thomas Ball, Painte Mountain land, then to his sons, John and Lewis. Four daughters Susanna Coulter, Martha Holland, Ann Ball and Elizabeth Saymaker, if still alive to divide what's left. Son John Ball to have my island tract of land then to go to Green Ball. Written 12 May 1832.  (A compiler’s note says that Huldah was widow of Michael Girdner Sr.)

1832: GreeneCo, TN Court Records.  7 November Huldah Ball, formerly Huldah Girdner, to Michael Girdner: condition that Michael care for Huldah her lifetime; land in Green Co. on Flag Branch formerly owned by Michael Girdner, Sr. Also personal property and an annuity of ninety six dollars on James Allen and Conrad Girdner, dec'd. by Lewis Ball to the said Huldah Ball.

1840: 1840 census Monroe Co Michael Girdner MonroeCo-195 2010001-212001 Males 2 under 5, 1 10-15, 1 40-50; females 2 under 5, 1 5-10, 2 10-15, 1 30-40

An Historical Sketch of the Girdner Family

James Madison Girdner  February 2, 1911

I, James Madison Girdner, of Livingston County Missouri, now in my 79th year by request of a number of the younger generations of Girdners, I propose to give a short sketch of our ancestry as far back as I have been able to ascertain from my mother and father. I have no documentary evidence whatever to write from; all the evidence I have has been handed down from parents to children, and as I am among the oldest of the generations now living, and by said request give as best I can the sketch as follows:

I will begin with my great grandfather as I learned it. My mother told me that when she was about 3 or 4 years old she remembered of seeing him. She said he was a little old Dutchman and stood as straight in the back as a fence rail; said he was so straight he almost leaned back. This was my great grandfather Girdner, and if I remember correctly his name was David. So far as I know he was the first Girdner that ever came to this country, and he was a full blooded german. I never heard of him having any brothers or sisters, nor any other relatives in their country. This little old Dutch man raised a son, his name was Michael Girdner; he was my grandfather. I never heard of him having any brothers or sisters. This Michael Girdner, my grandfather, served in the Revolutionary War clear through the whole seven years. His home was in Pennsylvania, but he got a wife in the state of Maine. I surmise that he found the woman he wanted up there while he was in the army and when the war ended in 1783 he got his wife and brought her down into Pennsylvania where his home was. I surmise this from the fact that my father was born on the 9th day of October, 1784, the next year after the close of the war. And he was their oldest child. My father said his mother was a Yankee woman, but he did not know what her nationality was, but her name was Hulda Beach (or Beech). My grandfather, on my mother's side was named Parman -- Giles Parman, and he was a full blood Englishman. He also went clear through the Revolutionary War, his wife was a German woman, as my mother told me. That is all I know about my mother's ancestry, or as far as I ever heard. They also lived in Pennsylvania. My mother was born about the year 1787. I think my grandfathers were neighbors in Pennsylvania and immigrated to Green County, east Tennessee, in about the year 1792. They settled close together in Tennessee and my father and mother grew up and were married there. Their oldest child was born there on the 12th day of August 1806. Her name was Mary Girdner, and she lived to be 101 years old, or was buried on the day that she would have been 101. My father's name was David Girdner and my mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Parman. My grandfather Michael Girdner, raised a family of 4 boys and I think one girl. But I think the girl or girls married and went off somewhere -- I never understood where they went. They were lost to the family. But one of the four boys was my father, David, who was the oldest son. He had a brother named Joseph and one named Conrad and one named Michael, and from these four brothers spring the whole generations of Girdners in the United States -- all the Girdners can be traced back to them in this country, but they are scattered with the four winds. But whenever you find one of the name, it is an easy matter to trace them back to one of these four brothers.

My father was in the war of 1812, clear through. He was a drummer and a recruiting officer and was there where bullets flew. He went where he was commanded to go and was counted one wherever he went. My father was also in the Mormon war and helped drive the Mormons out of this Missouri country. They then emigrated to Salt Lake City. My father was commissioned as captain of the 89th regiment of militia of the state of Kentucky. I have his appointment by the governor of Kentucky in my possession, among my father's old papers. I will give in full in letters and figures as follows:

"In the name and by the authority of the commonwealth of Kentucky. John Adair, Governor of the Commonwealth, to David Girdner, Esq., Greeting: Know you that reposing especial trust and confidence in your courage, activity and good conduct, and in consequence of you having been nominated agreeably to the Constitution, you are hereby commissioned Captain of the 89th regiment of militia of said state, to take rank as such, according to the date of this commission, and to continue in office during good behavior, and your residence within the bounds of your company. In testimony whereof I caused these letters to be made patent and the seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at Frankfurt on the 6th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one, and in the thirteenth year of the Commonwealth, by the Governor, John Adair. J. Cabell Breckenridge, secretary. I hereby certify that David Girdner received his commission on the 6th day of january, 1822, as Captain of the 89th regiment and took the oath of office on the 23rd day of same month. Certified this 23rd of January, 1822. J. White, J.P."

My father moved from Tennessee up into Kentucky and settled in Knox county, while his first child was yet a baby. He lived in Knox and Whitley Counties until eleven children were born to him, plus the one he brought from Tennessee. I made the even dozen, born on the 14th of July 1832. In the fall of 1834 he moved to Missouri where Livingston County was afterwards located, to wit, in 1837; and Chillicothe, the county seat, was located the same year. So my father had 13 children born to him. His children all came to Missouri except one, that were living - 3 died in Kentucky -- he went from Kentucky to Alabama. If still alive he was 100 years old the 31st day of december 1910. He was alive and well 5 or 6 years ago. Myself and one brother are here in Livingston County, Missouri. He is 6 years older than I. His name is David. He is in his 85th year; his son William M. Girdner, is a doctor. He is our family physician, and he has a good lucrative practice. My father died in 1864, in his 80th year. My mother died in november 1862. I think it is very doubtful about any of the family being alive except me and my brother, David. My uncle Joseph Girdner, came to Missouri about the year 1837. He stopped with us a while and then went on to Mercer county, Missouri, and made his stand with his family.

My uncle Conrad lived and died in Tennessee; his family scattered from there. None ever came west. One of his sons was a doctor. His name was William Girdner. He had a son that was a doctor. His name was John Harvey Girdner. He is a practicing physician now in New York city. I know nothing about any others of his family. I got this information from the doctor in New York city -- uncle Conrad's grandson. My uncle, Michael Girdner, went south from east Tennessee, as mother told me. But I did not understand where he went, but have learned from one of his grandson's that he went to Monroe County, in the extreme southeast corner of Tennessee near Madisonville, and raised his family there. I got a letter from his grandson, named W. H. Girdner and he is a doctor in Hunt County, Texas, gave me about all the information I have of my uncle Mike Girdner's family, and John Harvey Girdner the New York doctor gave me nearly all the Information I ever got about my uncle Conrad's family. My father and uncle Joseph Girdner are all the old Girdners that ever came west.

The above photo is an 1884 picture of Dr. John Harvey Girdner who studied medicine at New York University, was the last survivor of the four doctors who attended President Garfield when he was shot, he was assistant to Dr. Frank Hamilton who founded Bellevue Hospital.  Girdner  was a frequent caller at the White House in the Grover Cleveland Administration and a close friend of William Jennings Bryan.  He was a prolific writer on medical and social subjects , author of a tongue-in-cheek book, "Newyorkitis", satirizing the provincialism of life in New York City.  He was the son of Dr. William Girdner, a surgeon in the Union Army.  His mother Mary Ann Link taught illiterate fifteen-year-old tailor's apprentice Andrew Johnson, future president, to read and write. 

I will now give the names of all of my brothers and sisters and when they were born, as we have the family record. Mary Girdner was born August 12, 1806; Nancy Girdner; June 5, 1808; Green Berry Girdner, December 31, 1810; Elijah Girdner, December 4, 1812; Michael Girdner, September 28, 1814; Charles H. Girdner, February 11, 1817; Sam'l Girdner, January 30, 1820; Betty Ann Girdner, March 10, 1822; Mahala Girdner, May 15, 1824; David Girdner Jr., May 3, 1826; Joseph Girdner, October 13, 1829; James Madison Girdner, July 14, 1832; Elizabeth Girdner, December 28, 1834. I will now give a sketch of the characteristics of the Girdners generally. They are for the most part agricultural people. However, there are a fair percent of doctors and school teachers among them, but generally tillers of the soil -- some mercantile men among them. They were not chronic office hunters but they have been honored with office occasionally when it was given to them by the people, such as justice of the peace, assessors, sheriffs, etc. I had a cousin who was sheriff of Mercer County, Missouri one or two terms. My brother, Michael Girdner, represented barton county in the legislature of Missouri in 1870, but was not much given to hunt for office. They generally have homes of their own and keep plenty around to live on. I think they average up in that respect with any family I ever knew. I never heard of any preachers among them, nor knew of but one Girdner that was a lawyer. One of my brother Michael Girdner's sons studied law at Springfield, Missouri. I think he was admitted to the bar when about 21 or 22 years of age, but died soon after. I am a surveyor. I am the only surveyor I ever heard among the Girdners. There might have been more lawyers and surveyors among them but I never heard of any. I think my grandfather, Michael Girdner, was fairly well off, in his day. I understand that he owned a number of slaves when he died. His widow married a man named Ball. He started to New Orleans with the slaves to sell them, intending to come back and have it easy the rest of their days. He nor the slaves were ever heard of again, and my grandmother was left in very limited circumstances. I obtained this information from my father and mother. I had a brother in California who died about two years ago. His estate was appraised at about 150 thousand dollars. He was worth more than any one of the name I know of. This brother was Joseph Girdner, next older than I.

I will state a little incident I have heard my father tell: my grandfather was very broken in talking English. He and my grandfather, Giles Parman, were at a corn shucking where the Whigs and Tories got into a regular free-for-all fight. My grandfather Girdner got an axe handle and was knocking the Tories topsy-turvy and grandfather Parman (a quiet old Baptist) would try to pacify grandfather Girdner, who when he would see a Tory tearing around, would say: "Tamnation, Gilesy" and go after him and not stop until he would bring him all heels. He kept on until he knocked seven Tories down before they got the racket stopped. "Tamnation" seemed to be all the way my grandfather could ever swear. I think I have given about all I know about our ancestry. There might be some little incidences in which I might be corrected, but I don't think very many. But as to the lineage I am certain I have it as it was handed down to me. The old Girdners, as I have heard my father say, spelled their names Goertner. But I learned from the New York doctor that they spelled it Goertnez, which I think is better. A good German scholar might be able to give some light on it. Anyway they did not spell it like we do; hence, as I say all who spell the name like we do can be easily traced back to one of the four brothers in east Tennessee and the little old straight backed Dutchman which my mother saw about 120 years ago, certainly is the daddy of us all. I have now given in this sketch all that is necessary to give, that I know, so I will lay down my pen and let someone younger take it up, if they see proper.

Dated February 2, 1911, James Madison Girdner, Chillicothe, Missouri, RFD No. 3