Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin Counties
Chicago Biographical Publishing Company 1893

LABEN W. MURRIE, a leading citizen, prosperous business man and successful general agriculturist and stock-
raiser, cultivating his fine farm located on section 2, township 15, range 4, is also profitably engaged in handling 
merchandise in Round Knob, a village in the same section, Massac County, Ill. A native of the State and county, 
our subject is widely known and highly esteemed as an enterprising citizen of sterling integrity of character. His 
father, Green L. Murrie, an early settler of Illinois. was born in North Carolina in 1832, and, brought up on a farm, 
worked hard from his boyhood. Removing to Tennessee with his parents he received a rudimentary education, 
but spent the most of his time in farming and experienced the privations of pioneer life. 
The family finally removed to Massac County, Illinois where grandfather Murrie entered one hundred and twenty 
acres of land. Father Murrie remained with his parents until be had attained his majority, when he was married 
and settled in a home of his own. The mother of our subject was in girlhood Miss Melinda Walton. a Kentucky 
lady. She died in 1861, and some time after the father contracted a second marriage with Miss Elizabeth J. Smith, 
who, is also deceased. When first married Green L. Murrie bought a farm, the soil of which he contentedly tilled 
twelve years, when he sold out and went to western Kansas, thinking the climate would be beneficial to the health 
of the family. The new homestead of three hundred and twenty acres was located in Ottawa County and was 
prairie land, partly improved and a violent contrast to the timber land hitherto owned by him. After a number of 
years spent in this part of the State, the father of our subject removed to Mitchell County, and having previously 
sold out his late homestead bought an unimproved farm, broke the land, built a house and barns and made a 
comfortable home, but was seized with the spirit of unrest and removed to Ozark, Mo., where lie purchased land 
and resided for the four succeeding years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Indian territory and dwelt in 
the Choctaw Nation, where he leased land and farmed until his death in 1891. He was a remarkable man, of 
excellent business ability and intelligence, but preferred a life upon the frontier.
By his first marriage Green L. Murrie became the father of four children: Dora, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Lee 
Faulhaber; Jennie, deceased,  Laben M., our subject. The children of the second marriage were William, located 
at Ft. Smith, Ark.; Martha J., deceased; Mary, wife of C. M. Dowell, Indian Territory; Hattie, wife of J. Upton, a 
Baptist minister of Indian Territory. 
 Laben M., the fourth child of the first marriage, was born in Massac County August 20, 1859. He was reared 
upon a farm and accompanied his father to Kansas, but when thirteen years old he returned to Massac County, 
and, thrown entirely upon his own resources, worked upon farms, a portion of the time being in the employ of his 
brother-in-law, who lived upon the old homestead of Grandfather Murrie. Our subject received a primary 
education, and through close observation fitted himself for the battle of life. At twenty-two years of age he was 
married to 'Miss Sarah A. May, of Massac County, a most estimable lady and a true help. mate, whose parents 
yet reside in the vicinity of her home. After his marriage Mr. Murrie rented a farm for one year and at the 
expiration of a  twelve month received forty acres from his grandmother's old place, and 'buying twenty acres 
more, made his home there for four years, when he sold out for $1,500 and purchased the valuable homestead 
where he now resides. The ninety-four acres were then almost unimproved, but our subject and his wife made 
their home in a humble little log cabin on the place, and with stout hearts courageously toiled until the land was 
brought up to a high state of cultivation and excellent buildings had replaced the rude structures of early days. 
The home residence is one of the most attractive in this locality and the farm is one of the best in this portion of 
the State. Mr. Murrie is a self-made man, who, having energetically won his upward way, is fully entitled to the 
respect now paid to his business ability. He has been successful in all his undertakings and seems especially 
adapted to the requirement of general merchandising, which prospers under his skillful care. One child, a 
daughter, Ellie, has blessed his marriage and brought yet more sunshine into the pleasant home. Financially 
prospered, Mr. Murrie is politically a Democrat and, a liberal-spirited and progressive citizen, is ever ready to do 
his full share in matters of public welfare, having long been accounted an important factor in local enterprises and 
improvements.