Guilford M. Wiley was born July 10, 1880, in Whiteland, Indiana. He was educated in both rural and city schools. After studying at Franklin College (1898-1902) and Indiana University (1905), he received a B.A. from De Pauw University in 1906.
Wiley taught in rural schools in Argyle, Illinois (1900-1901), and Trafalgar, Indiana (1901-1902), and at Whiteland High School, Whiteland, Indiana (1902-1904), where he was also assistant principal. He was principal, Clark Township High School, 1904-1906; teacher and assistant principal, Franklin (Indiana) High School, 1906-1907; teacher and athletic director, Decatur (Illinois) High School, 1907-1910; and teacher, Detroit University School. He also helped the Indiana Department of Public Instruction consolidate its rural schools. During his career as an educator, Wiley taught history, Latin, mathematics, and economics, as well as coaching basketball and baseball. In about 1911, Wiley co-founded and helped operate Birchwood Summer School, connected to Birchwood Lodge, Mullet Lake, Michigan. This was a tutoring school for boys. In 1918, he moved to Galesville, Wisconsin, as principal of public schools. Three years later, Wiley became principal of Central High School in La Crosse, a position he held until 1926. Subsequently, Wiley became superintendent of schools in La Crosse and later, for Trempealeau County.
Under his leadership in La Crosse, the school system began the first school for crippled children, a summer playground program, and a junior high school program. Wiley oversaw the reorganization of the departments of educational guidance and curriculum. Wiley also was a member of a national committee to study school location and finance, and he served as secretary and president of the Western Wisconsin Teachers Association.
Following his career as school administrator, Wiley was secretary and vice-president of Arnold Dryer Co., Milwaukee, a manufacturer of machinery for dehydrating green forage crops. He also maintained a Galesville farm and seed corn business with his son.
A staunch Republican, Wiley was elected to the State Assembly from Trempealeau County in 1946. He ultimately served two terms. While in the legislature he was instrumental in promoting legislation to aid schools and the State's universities, and to improve Perrot State Park. After he left the legislature, Wiley wrote “The Legislative Log,” a column analyzing the legislative sessions, which appeared in many Wisconsin newspapers. In 1952, Wiley was a candidate for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, but lost to incumbent George Smith at the State Convention.
Following his retirement from politics, Wiley taught high school in Otwell, Indiana, in 1954, and at a ranch school for boys in Miami, Florida, early in 1955. He was prominent in the Galesville and La Crosse Presbyterian Churches, as an elder and as field secretary to the National Council of Presbyterian Men. Wiley suffered a heart attack and died in May 1955, at the age of 75. He was survived by his wife, Beulah Arnold Wiley, and children.
