For more than a third of a century Matt Muir has been a resident of Wyoming. He is now living retired at Rock Springs, enjoying the success which has come to him as the merited reward of his labors and judicious investments. There is particular satisfaction in reverting to his life history, since his mind bears the impress of the historic annals of the state from the early pioneer days, and, from the fact that he has ever been a loyal son of the republic and has attained to a position of distinctive prominence in the thriving little city in which he has so long made his home. Thirty-seven years have passed since he arrived in Wyoming and cast in his lot with its pioneers. People of the present period can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the difficulties overcome. These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have known only modern prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer of the early days, far removed from the privileges and conveniences of the older east, the struggle for existence was often a stern and hard one and these men and women must have possessed indomitable energy and sterling worth of character as well as marked physical courage when they thus voluntarily selected such a life and successfully fought the battles under such circumstances as prevailed in the west. Mr. Muir was long connected with the development of the coal resources of the state and his activities along that line eventually brought to him the success which enabled him to live retired and yet enjoy all the comforts and conveniences that go to make life worth the living.
    He was born in Allegany county, Maryland. April 15, 1856, and is a son of John and Mary (Craig) Muir, who were natives of Scotland. They came to America in the early '50s, settling in Pennsylvania. The voyage to the new world was made on one of the old-time sailing vessels and later they became residents of Allegany county, Maryland, where the father engaged in coal mining, spending his last days in that locality, where he passed away after a residence there of forty-nine years. His wife also died in the same county in March, 1915, at the notable old age of ninety-six years. In their family were nine children, of whom Matt Muir was the fifth in order of birth. His brothers and sisters who are still living are: Mrs. Jennie Hradburn and William Muir, both of whom are residing in Allegany county, Maryland; Mrs. H. H. Atkinson, also living in that county; and Robert and David, both of whom reside in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
    In his boyhood Matt Muir attended the country schools of his native county and after his textbooks were put aside worked in the coal mines of Maryland and was thus employed until he left home at the age of twenty years. He made his way direct to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and for several years was employed on the ranch of Carl Lefler. He was afterward in the employ of Rose Brothers, ranchmen of Cheyenne, and still later went to Carbon county, where he worked in the coal mines. He was also engaged in coal mining in Rock Springs and his time was thus passed until 1878. In 1879 he went to Leadville, Colorado, where he was employed until 1880, when he returned to Rock Springs and again took up the work of mining coal here. He opened up and operated several fine coal mines, his activities constituting an important factor in the development of the natural resources of the state in this connection. He then sold out to the Union Pacific & Central Coal & Coke Company. For twenty-five years he had been a factor in the coal trade and his spirit of enterprise had been a valuable element in the work of improvement in the coal fields. During the early period of his residence in Sweetwater county Mr. Muir resided a few miles from the town of Rock Springs and many times he could have killed elk and antelope from his doorway–a fact indicative of the unsettled condition of the country. He has lived to witness many changes as the work of progress and improvement has been carried steadily forward. He is now living retired, having recently sold out his last coal mine.
    On the 22^d of September, 1881, Mr. Muir was married to Miss Christina Shea, a daughter of Peter and Katherine (Gehan) Shea, representatives of a well known family of Maryland. Mr. Shea was a railroad conductor at an early day and laid some of the first rails on the line of railroad built to Baltimore, Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. Muir were born nine children, three of whom have passed away: Eifie, who died at Rock Springs at the age of seventeen years; Ike, who died in 1908 at the age of nineteen years; and Mrs. Nellie Harris, who died in 1913, leaving two children, Mattie Muir and Christina Muir, both of whom were born in Rock Springs. The other members of the Muir family are: Carrie, who was born at Rock Springs in January, 1883, and is now the wife of William Reid, a resident of Ogden, Utah; John, who was born in Rock Springs in 1884; Peter, born July 4, 1887, and now married to Emma Wiggins, by whom he has one child, Peter Muir, Jr.; Mrs. Mary Craig Rossen, who was born in Rock Springs in 1889; Matt, Jr., born in Rock Springs in January, 1894, and who married Miss Emily Lundgren, of Laramie, by whom he has one child, Robert Matthew, born in Laramie in November, 1917; and Christina, who was born in Rock Springs in 1899 and is attending school.
    Mr. Muir belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose. He has been called upon to serve in several local offices, filling the position of county assessor, to which he was first elected in 1890, and afterward was reelected. He has also been water commissioner. His activities have long been a factor in the development and progress of his section of the state. He was among the few courageous frontiersmen who dared to locate within the borders of Wyoming while the work of progress and improvement yet remained in the future and when there was little promise of early development. In the years which have since followed he has not only witnessed a most wonderful transformation but has largely aided in the labors that have changed this section from a wild tract of land into a splendid commonwealth. He is now living retired, enjoying a well earned rest which is the merited reward of a long and honorable business career.