Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-10-26

James Loren Martin was brought be-
fore the public eye first in 1897. when the
Vermont delegation voted unanimously
to recommend that he be appointed United
States district attorney. He had declined
the proffered honor OF an appointment as
assistant secretary Of war, and his petition
for the district attorneyship bore up
wards OF 5000 signatures. embracing the
names OF many lawyers and ex-members
of the legislature throughout the state
But II was not his petition alone that
won him the victory. He was the per-
sonal choice of President William Nc
Kinley because IL was Mr. Martin who
organized the Mckinley movement In Yer
mont and followed II up with parliament
tary proceedings I'm the state convention
with the result that Vermont declared for
Mckinley In preference to Thomas Il.
Reed. the presidential candidate from
Maine. At the time Of his resignation
Mr.. Martin was serving his third four
year term as district attorney.
Mr.. Martin was born in LandgroVe Sept
10, 1864, and was a son OF James Martin.
n prominent Democrat, and Lucy. daugh-
ter OF DIR. Henry Gray. His father being
a farmer. the son was Injured thoroughly
to habits OF industry and independence.
At the age OF II years his father presented
! him $50 and the control OF his time and
with his outfit and his ample natural re-
! sources he began life's battle working
] MS way lnIOlRn the academies In Lon
donderry and NARROW. n. H.. devoting his
energies in vacation time to chopping
wood and peellng bark for tanneries.
In the spring OF 1867 he was employed
| boiling sap, and as his time was not all
occupied he devoted his spare minutes
to the preliminary study OF law books. In
the latter part Of that year he determined
to become a lawyer and entered Judge
| Hoyt II. Wheeler'S Office In Jamaica. The
next year he entered the Albany. N. Y.
i law school, from which he graduated in
May, 1869, and at the June term of the
Bennington county court he was admit
ted to the bar In the same year he
opened an Office in South Londonderry
| and practiced 10 years without any bust
ness associate. Then he and A. f. Cud-
worth Of South Londonderry were part
ners about one year. Mr. Martin came
to Brattleboro in 1882 and with ]. c. Ed
dy bought the interest OF the late Charles
N. Davenport in the law firm of Davenport
& Eddy. Mr.. Eddy retired from the firm
In 1888 and a copartnership was formed
with Judge f. L. Waterman. Afterwards
George b. Hit now deceased became a
member OF the firm and few years ago
Capt. Ernest Gibson was admitted to a
copartnership.
The town OF Londonderry elected Mr..
Martin representative in the legislature
in 1874. He served on the committee on
education and had charge of the bill TO
superintendent In 1876 he again was
elected representative from Londonderry.
and served as chairman of the committee
on elections and as al member of the ju-
dietary committee. After his third cleo
ton in 1878, he was chosen speaker OF
the House on the second ballot. He was
returned to the House in 1880 and for the
fifth time, In 1882, both times being chosen
speaker. He was elected to represent
Brattleboro in 1892, declining TO be a can
didate for speaker. He was appointed tax
commissioner by Gov William T.. Dill
bingham. now United States senator in
1888 and when the tax law was declared
unconstitutional by the supreme court, he
drafted the present law. He was tax
commissioner again from 1892 to 1894
Mr.. Martin is well versed in the va
rious branches of law, excelling especially
in Its application, and he has a wide rep
} utation as an advocate in the trial o.
causes. AS attorney for the state he Sc
cured the conviction of Jesse II. Levi!
in the celebrated BALD mountain" muir
der case, and his services have been re
taoned In many other important crimina
cases. During his incumbency as United
States district attorney Mr.. Martin de
voted much time and energy to the tria
; of Cinnamon charged with violating thu
Chinese immigration law, and he practi
cally put an end to Chinese immigration
across the Vermont border. For thi
and other work he was compliments,
, highly by Attorney General Philander c
Knox. Mr.. Martin is identified with sew
eral business interests.
In 1869 Mr.. Martin married Della e.
daughter of Lewis Howard. She died Il
1881. On Jan. 10, 1888, he married Jessi
L., daughter OF Capt. Edward Dewey o
J Montpelier. They have three daughters
Margaret, Helen and Katherine. Thei
home is atNthe corner of Linden an
z Chaplin streets.