Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: MASTIN, WILLIAM H (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II


p. 457-458



WILLIAM H. MASTIN.

William H. Mastin, one of the prominent figures in insurance 
circles in Denver, who has the superintendency of the agencies west of 
the Mississippi river for the Columbian National Life Insurance Company 
of Boston, was born in Detroit, Michigan, September 20, 1869, and is a 
son of Charles H. and Caroline (Battishill) Mastin. The father was born 
in Ohio and has made merchandising largely his life work. He is now 
living in Florida, where he is engaged in the raising of grape fruit, 
and has attained the age of eighty-two years. His wife was born in 
England and when but a month old was brought to the new world by her 
parents, the family home being established in Detroit. She has now 
passed away.

William H. Mastin is indebted to the public school system of his 
native city for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed, and 
after leaving the Detroit high school he entered mercantile circles in 
Detroit, being thus engaged until his removal to Denver in August, 
1887. In 1893 he entered the life insurance business in connection with 
the Equitable Life Company, with which he remained for fifteen years. 
Later he was with the Colorado National and remained with that company 
until it sold out to the Columbian National Life Insurance Company of 
Boston. His position as superintendent of agencies west of the 
Mississippi river is a very important one and he is a most able 
incumbent in the office, alert and energetic, with excellent powers of 
organization, combined with notable executive force and keen sagacity.

Mr. Mastin was united in marriage to Miss Ella W. Blair, of 
Denver and a graduate of the East Denver high school. She is a daughter 
of Robert Dallas Blair, who was born in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, September 19, 1844, a son of Alexander and Sarah M. 
Blair. In the paternal line his ancestry was traced back to the Rev. 
Robert Blair, a Presbyterian minister of Ayrshire, Scotland, and to 
Major Allison, an officer of the Revolutionary war, while his mother 
was a sister of President McKinley's mother. Robert D. Blair completed 
his education in the high school of Davenport, Iowa, and took up 
printing and newspaper work. In 1863 he became a member of the first 
surveying party on the Union Pacific Railroad, surveying and locating 
the road from Omaha to Fremont, Nebraska. He first landed in Denver in 
1868 and the following year became foreman of the Rocky Mountain News. 
In 1870 he was foreman of the Denver Tribune and occupied that position 
until 1883 under the successive managements of Woodbury & Walker, Harry 
C. Brown and Herman Beckerts. In 1883 he established the Delta Chief of 
Delta, Colorado, and sold the paper In 1887, at which time he assumed 
the foremanship of the Denver News under Askins & Burnell. In 1891 he 
took a position as foreman of the Leadville Herald-Democrat, in which 
capacity he served until 1903, when he removed to Lewiston, Idaho, 
where he now resides. During the period of his residence in Denver he 
was a member of the volunteer fire department from its organization 
until the establishment of a paid fire department, having been a member 
of the Woodie Fisher Hose Company. His political allegiance is given to 
the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Baptist 
church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and in 1911 was master of 
Nez Perce Lodge, No. 10, A. F. & A. M., of Idaho, and in 1912 was high 
priest of the Royal Arch Chapter. He was married at Blackhawk, 
Colorado, to Emma C. Orahood, a daughter of William J. Orahood and a 
sister of Harper M. Orahood. To Mr. and Mrs. Blair was born a daughter, 
Ella Winifred, who became the wife of William H. Mastin, and to this 
union four children have been born: Dallas B., twenty-six years of age, 
who is connected with the United States army in the service of the 
artillery, being stationed in France; Henry W., in the United States 
Navy, stationed at the John Paul Jones training station at San 
Francisco, California; and Caroline E., and Gladys W., at home.

Mr. Mastin finds his greatest happiness in the companionship of 
his family and his chief source of recreation is in motoring. He takes 
frequent trips through the west but spends his summers with his family 
in Denver. He is prominent in the Knights of Pythias, having filled all 
the chairs in the local lodge. and is a member of the grand lodge. His 
career is that of a successful man and one whose record should serve to 
inspire and encourage others.