Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published
by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.  Reprinted by Southern Historical
Press.  p.  184.  Jefferson County.

PETER B. MUIR, of Louisville, was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, on the
19th of October 1822.  On his father's side Judge Muir descends from
study Scotch stock, his grandfather being Dr. William Muir, a native of
Scotland and a graduate of Edinburg College.  He came to America, locating
first in Maryland and removed shortly thereafter to Nelson county,
Kentucky, where he resided and continued the practice of his profession
until 1838, when he died, at the age of eighty-four years.  He was a man of
fine attainments and much beloved by his county.  His son, Jasper Muir, was
born in Maryland, and came with his father to Nelson county, Kentucky,
where he engaged in farming.  At an early age he married Isabella Brown,
daughter of Peter Brown, also a Marylander who came to Nelson county
early in the century and engaged in farming on a very extensive scale.
Isabella Muir survived her husband, Jasper Muir, only three years, he
having died in 1830 and she in 1833.
     Their son, Peter B. Muir, was thus left an orphan at an early age,
and forced to begin life's battle for himself.  His early education was
such as could be procured in the country schools of Nelson county, but
chiefly was he indebted to the care and supervision of his paternal
grandfather, Dr. William Muir, for the advantages he had in youth.  The
struggle was often a hard one but the courageous spirit of the young
man enable him to triumph over difficulties and he finally accumulated
sufficient means wherewith to pay his tuition during a two-years course
in Hanvoer College.  He returned home with an ambition to become a member
of the legal profession and took up the study of law, reading alone,
through the hours usually called "leisure."  When he had saved from his
earnings the sum of one hundred dollars he invested in law books,
purchasing the library of Judge J. D. Nourse, of Bardstown.  Soon after
commencing his legal studies he was united in marriage to Miss Sophronia
Rizer, of Bardstown, a lady of great beauty of character, who, sharing
in the hopes and aspirations of her young husband, assisted him in his
law studies and in other ways.  At the end of three months after their
marriage he was enabled to secure a license to practice and entered upon
his career at the bar, establishing an office in Bardstown in 1846; only
a short time had passed before he had won a large clientage.  His
sterling character for honesty, sobriety and faithful application to
duty, as well as his legal ability, recommended him to his follow citizens,
and he was twice elected and served as county attorney of his native
county.  Subsequently he entered into partnership with the Hon. Thomas W.
Riley, one of the most eminent jurists of that section of the state, and
so extensive became their business that they determined to removed to
Louisville,--a resolution which was effected in January, 1852.
     His official service has been largely in the line of his profession,
yet he was for several years a member of the general council of Louisville,
and in 1857 was elected to the state legislature.  In 1857 he was elected
circuit judge, resigning his seat in the legislature after only three
weeks' service in order to occupy the bench.  He was re-elected to the
office of circuit judge, but resigned before the expiration of his last
term to accept the office of judge of the court of common pleas for
Jefferson county, on the establishment of that court.  After four years'
service in that capacity he again resigned and resumed the practice of law,
entering at once upon an extensive business.  For a few years he was in
partnership with the late Martin Bijur and by the admission of George M.
Davie to an interest in the business the firm became Muir, Bijur & Davie.
After the death of Mr. Bijur, Mr. Muir practiced alone until 1881, when the
firm of Muir & Heyman was formed, and thus continued until 1889, when his
son, Upton W. Muir, became his associate in the practice.  The firm is now
P. B. & Upton W. Muir, and the reputation which they sustain has brought
them a very large and most distinctively representative clientage.
     Mr. Muir has been connected with many of the most important cases
litigated in the state for more than forty years, and it is but justice to
say he stands in the front ranks of the legal profession.  Among other
cases of note with which he has been connected are the following: the
Knights of Honor cases, the great trade-mark case of Avery versus Mickelz,
the Preston will case, the Pullman car cases, the Commonwealth versus
Crittenden, the Commonwealth versus Snapp, The Commonwealth versus Rhoris,
the Short Line Railroad cases, the Daviess county bond case and many other
of the most exciting and important cases, civil and criminal, which have
come before the courts of Kentucky, federal and state.
     Judge Muir has found time in his busy life to give of his talent to
the education of young men for the bar, and from time to time has
occupied an important chair in the law department of the University of
Louisville.  Many a rising young lawyer has kindly recollections of him
as friend and teacher.  His cheerful mien and good advice have been a
helpful and grateful remembrance of their college days.
     As a judge he had the respect of the bar and of the people.  Upright
and impartial always, he voluntarily resigned the ermine to become again
a practitioner, finding in the latter walk a more congenial and more
profitable occupation.  He has ever held a foremost place at the bar,
where his indomitable energy, his legal acumen and his perseverance,
coupled with his high sense of honor, his well known integrity and his
faithfulness to his client's interests, have endeared him to his brother
lawyers and his fellow citizens.  He is withal genial and courteous,
ever ready to help the young lawyer over the rough places, and with an
open hand to assist the needy.  A consistent member of the Presbyterian
church, his high moral sense founded on this belief has governed every
action of his life.
     Mrs. Sophronia Muir died in 1885, leaving seven children: Belle,
wife of Harry Weissinger, a tobacco manufacturer of Louisville; Thomas
R.; Sidney S.; Upton W.; Lillian, wife of A. A. Semple, of Louisville;
Nellie, wife of A. H. Smith, of Springfield, Illinois, and Sophronia.
     Upton W. Muir, born December 20, 1863, son of the foregoing, was
educated with great care and was graduated at the University of Virginia
in the class of 1886, with the degree of Master of Arts and the debater's
prize.  He was also graduated in the law department of the same
institution in 1887, with the degree of LL.B.  He entered on his
professional career in Louisville in 1889 and became associated with his
father in practice.  He is a clear legal mind, well cultivated; he
brings to his business thorough knowledge of the law with those habits of
industry, perseverance and integrity that have so prominently marked the
successful career of his father.  He was married in 1888 to Miss Hebe
Harrison, daughter of Hon. Julian Harrison, of Elk Hill, on the James
river in Virginia, a member of the Harrison family so prominent in the
history of Virginia and the United States.

Muir Brown Nourse Rizer Davie Bijur Heyman Weissinger Semple
Smith Harrison
=
Nelson-KY MD VA Scotland

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/muir.pb2.txt