West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-01-24
DEATHS DoINGs.
A Distinguished Citizen Passes Away.
His Life and Public Career.

Martin, well known TO our people
and highly respected by all. His
death had been expected for sew.
eral weeks, as from the nature of
his disease it was impossible for
him 10 recover. His brother. DIR.
Winfield Scott Martin, of King.
wood, has been with him for some
time doing all that was possible to
relieve his last hours. lie passed
away peacefully, surrounded by
friends, and was conscious to The
last. The funeral services were
held yesterday at Grafton. con.
Quoted 10y the Rev. Mr.. Moore, of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ana IN the afternoon the burial cook
place at Fairmont. The deceased
has two brothers residing in King
wood-Dr. Martin. mentioned
above. and George w. S. Martin.
proprietor of the Hotel Gordon.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MARTINS
CAREER.
Hon. b. +. Martin was born near
Pennington. Marion county, Va.
lnow West Nirginia). October 2.
1928. His father. Jesse Il. Martin.
was among the early settlers os Buff
talo Greek, then in Harrison coun-
ty, where he devoted himself to the
business OF farming. The subject
OF this sketch was brought up as a
tiller of the soil, devoting the first
twenty one years of his life to that
honest vocation. lie had but limi.
ted school advantages in his early
HE, but soon after he reached his
majority he matriculated as a stu
dent Of Allegheny College, Mead
vile, Pa. from which he graduated.
with his first honors. as 4 Bachelor
OF Arts, in June, 1854. After grad.
uallon at college, he returned to
Marion county and taught school
eighteen months in Fairmont. dur
ing which time he studied law. He
was admitted to the bar and com
menced practice in March, 1856.
locating the following November AT
Prnntytown, then the seat of Justice
OF Taylor county, where ne remain
ed until n few years ago. When
Grafton was made the county seat,
he moved his Office to Grafton,
whore he has since resided.
For many years Mr.. Martin de-
voted his undivided energies to the
practice of his profession, and as a
reward for his toll became q distin-
gulshed lawyer. For a quarter of
century he had been leading
mem Der of the bar of his adopted
county.
Often solicited to become can
dldate fer office. Mr.. Martin wisely
refused until he had established
himself Us an attorney of promise
and with a reputation fully made.
When the Democratic party came
into power in West Virginia in
1871, 1t was decided by them that
a new Constitution should be
framed. A convention was accord.
lngly called for that purpose IN
1872, and Mr.. Martin was chosen a
delegate from Taylor county. Be.
ing a good lawyer and superior
debater he took high rank i'm the
convention, and was one Of its most
useful and active members. The
same year (l872) he was delegate
to the National Democratic Con.
yention that met in Baltimore. Mr..
Martin opposed the nomination OF
Horace Greedy, but in the cam paign
that followed he gave him active
and earnest support.
IN CONGRESS.
In the fall Of 1872 he was n can
did.te for Congress for the Second
District on the Democratic ticket.
The new Constitution was adopted
at SPECIAL election. August %. of
that year. Hon. j. n. Hagans was
voted for as member Of Congress
that day. receiving 3,44l votes. MIR.
Martin did not allow himself to be
voted for at that time, but appeared
as the regular candidate Of his par
sy at the October election. receIv.
ing 5,99S votes. On the same dny.
j. Nelson Wisner, Republican,, re-
ceived 1858 votes, and ID. ID. II.
FdrnswOrth, 1921 votes. Governor
jacob certified to Congress the re-
suit OF both elections, and a contest
followed. Congress admitted MIR.
Hagans as the duly elected mem.
Der, Notwithstanding the Commit.
tee OF Elections reported i'm favor Of
Mr.. Martin. In 1876 Mr.. Martin
was again bis party's candidate for
Congress. and WAS elected by a ma.
jority Of 3,743. In 1880 he was re.
elected by nearly 5000 majority.
While in Congress Mr.. Martin was
attentive to his duties and was an
representative. No West
Virginia Congressman left behind
him q more faithful or more honor
able record.
Mr. Martin from early manhood
was "a devoted member Of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. lie wasa
Law delegate TO the General Confer.
ence Of 1876; was President of the
Lay Electoral Conference Of that
church hold at Parkersburp. Octo-
Der, 1887. and was one Of tho