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biography
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Mustin, William I., a prominent Pittsburgh businessman and former president
of the Pittsburg stock exchange, comes from a long line of distinguished
ancestors. On his father's side he is descended from French Huguenots,
who were forced by religious persecution to emigrate to England, where
the family's name was changed from Moustain to the present spelling.
The great grandfather of the subject of this sketch and the first of the
family to emigrate to America, became a merchant in Philadelphia, and his
son Anthony Mustin, was the first to establish in Philadelphia what is
known as a "trimming store."
James G Mustin, son of Anthony and father of William I, was a native of
Philadelphia, and for some years engaged there in the trimming business.
He came to Pittsburgh in 1840, became connected with the Logan-Gragg
hardware company, and continued in the hardware business until his death,
which occurred March, 1864.
His wife, Frances Irwin Mustin, died in Pittsburg, February 24, 1897. She
was a granddaughter of John Irwin, who was born in Ireland and came to
America in 1772, residing for a number of years in Carlisle, Penna, and
then in 1790 came to the village of Pittsburg. Here he opened the first
dry goods store, located at the corner of Fourth and Market Streets, and
continued in that business up to the time of his death, which occurred
April, 1830. A son of John Irwin, William Wallace Irwin, grandfather of
William I Mustin, was for many years prominent in Pittsburg politics, at
first as a whig and later as a democrat. He was a member of congress,
mayor of Pittsburg in 1839, and by appointment of President Tyler served
as United States minister to Denmark. He died in Pittsburg, September, 1856.
William I Mustin, the subject of this article, was one of five children,
of whom two besides himself are living: Caroline Denny, wife of George W
Nicholson of Pittsburg; and Edwin T, a commercial traveler.
Mr Mustin was born in Pittsburg, June 8, 1860, and was educated at home
under the direction of his mother. He began to learn the printers' trade
at an early age, and on October 9, 1871, entered the employ of George B
Hill. In 1881 he was admitted to partnership, which relationship
continued until Mr Hill died in 1900.
In political belief he is an ardent republican, and has long been a
prominent factor in Pittsburgh politics. He was from 1898 to 1902 a
member of the select council of Pittsburg; councilmanic trustee of the
Carnegie library and Carnegie institute from April, 1900, to April, 1902;
president of the Americus club from 1894 to 1898; has been vice
president of the Mozart club since 1890; served five years as president
of the stock exchange, and it largely by his efforts that the exchange
owns and occupies its present building.
He is past eminent commander of Tancred commandry, No 48, Knights
Templars and a member of the Mystic Shrine and belongs to the following
clubs: Monongahela, Duquesne, Americus, Masonic country, Browning and
Fishing, all of Pittsburg. He is a member of the Art society and a patron
of the Pittsburg orchestra. He also belongs to the Manufacturers' club of
Philadelphia, and the New York athletic club of New York.
On April 12, 1883, Mr Mustin married Sarah Isabel Dorrington, daughter of
John and Sarah Dorrington, and has three children: Burton Hill Mustin;
Eleanor Dorrington Mustin; and Agnes Mahon Mustin.
Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; personal and genealogical.
Vol. 1, p 41
Contributed by Marta Burns.
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