Born January 7, 1845 in Caulderbank, Scotland, William Martin moved to Pittsburgh in 1870 and is largely remembered as an active and influential participant in the labor movement of the late 19th century. From 1878-1890 Mr. Martin served as Secretary Treasurer for the National Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers of the United States. In 1889 Martin petitioned President elect Benjamin Harrison unsuccessfully for the office of Commissioner of Labor, gathering in the process numerous endorsements from such prominent figures as Andrew Carnegie, United States Senators Mathew Quay and Boies Penrose, and B.F. Jones, President of the American Iron and Steel Association. In 1897 Martin would petition President William McKinley, again unsuccessfully, for the post of Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island. From 1891-1893 Martin worked at the Carnegie Steel Company where he served as Chief of the Bureau of Labor. During this time Martin collected, sometimes covertly, wage scale and labor cost information related to competitor businesses and mills. This information was subsequently used by the Carnegie Steel Company as a determinant of wage payouts for the workers of the Homestead Mill and contributed to the Homestead Strike of 1892. Between 1893-1898 Martin was involved with both the McCullough and Martin Manufacturing Company, a business responsible for manufacturing paint and grease products, and with the Olive Varnish Company, a business involved with the manufacturing of varnishes, japans, and lacquers. Both companies occupied space at 61st Street and Butler Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Martin became co-owner of the McCullough and Martin Manufacturing Company in 1893, then known as Eureka Lubricants, and served as company salesman traveling throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and as far east as New York City. In late 1896 Martin purchased sole rights to the business and changed the name to Martin Manufacturing Company. The company survived two more years, eventually closing in 1898 due to lack of sales. From 1895-1897 Martin served as a partner with the Olive Varnish Company, a Pittsburgh business responsible for manufacturing varnishes, japans, and lacquers. Much like his role with the McCullough and Martin Manufacturing Company, Martin acted as company salesman, often representing the interests of both companies in his travels. Martin was also active in the field of invention and submitted to the Patent Office three applications for patent consideration, two of which, a 1906 patent for street car fenders intended to collect stray materials from the tracks and a 1907 patent for street car brakes, were awarded patent recognition. Prior to his death in 1923, Martin was working as a night manager of Reymer and Brothers, a Fifth Avenue department store in downtown Pittsburgh.
From the description of Papers of William Martin, 1862-1933, (bulk 1885-1899) (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 62269961
