Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/316

practice, he was soon placed in public office, his able service in the positions to which he was elected winning him prominence and praise. After serving as state senator of the district of Norfolk city and Princess Anne. 1881-82. he was elected state railroad commissioner to fill a term commencing in 1883. and in 1885 was elected to represent Norfolk county in the house of delegates of Virginia. term of two years, and was reelected in 1887 for two years more. While in the house of delegates of Virginia the free schools of Norfolk county lacking funds to complete their yearly course, Colonel Martin introduced a bill which was passed enabling the supervisors of his county to lay a tax on barrooms to an amount not exceeding the state tax paid. This is the only county in the state that has had such a bill and it has procured for Norfolk county an annual income of several thousand dollars, thereby placing Norfolk county in the first rank as to position of schools in the state. He presented many other bills which were of lasting benefit to the state as well as to his section. He was one of the leaders and a great factor in having the bill passed for an insane asylum at Petersburg for the colored people, who had hitherto been confined in jails for want of proper accommodations.

These and other positions of weight and importance were filled by Colonel. Martin during his active career, and upon his retirement from active pursuits in 1913 he left the law a well remembered and highly regarded attorney, and public life a servant from whose labors county and state had derived great benefit. During his years of activity, Colonel Martin's grasp upon the affairs of the day was so comprehensive and thorough as to make even his casual remarks authoritative, and this interest in affairs he has not lost with accumulating years. Aggressive persistence, based upon thorough and complete knowledge, was the quality from which sprang the value of his services, the many graces and talents embellishing the sterner traits of his character commanding the admiration of his friends and associates.

Colonel Mirtin has been honored with the degree oi Doctor of Laws, and in literary fields is well known, both through his patronage and his contributions to the world of letters, From a boy he has been a hard student, and as a historian in all of its departments, narrative, reflective and philosophical, has analyzed and digested the same from the time of Heroditus, the first historian, to Hagel and later, and from that philosopher to the strictures of President Wilson on history, and the whole course of other studies including those mentioned in Bacon's "Novum Organum" has been scanned and studied. Colonel Martin has written a history of the settlement, rise and progress of America upon a unique and novel plan, with copious reflections on the nature of history and the manner to render it truthful, the strange title of which is "Impersonality of' History."

Colonel Martin married, September 3, 1857, Georgia A. Wickens, born December 23, 1837, daughter of J. Edward and Alice (White) Wickens. both families pioneers of Princess Anne county, the members being among the most highly respected and distinguished citizens, honorable in all their actions, following various lines of occupation, some being engaged in the ministry, others as planters. Children of Colonel and Mrs. Martin : 1. George Alexander Jr., born November 26, 1862; married Annie Louise, daughter of Captain James E. Peery. of Tazewell county, Virginia; he is one of the most profound scholars of the state, educated as a lawyer at the University of Virginia; he discontinued practice to superintend his "Blue Grass" farm in Tazewell county; he is now chief engineer of a system of roads having their origin in his county ; he has children: Annie Louise, born October 3. 1893; Cecil Peery. born December 27. 1895; Thomas Fairfax, born March 10, 1897; George Alexander, third, born August 26. 1901 ; Marina Theresa, born February I, 191 1. 2. May, born January 29. 1868, died January 7, 1892; married, November 28, 1888, Samuel C. Peery; one son, Samuel C. Jr., born June 18, 1891. 3. Theresa Fairfax. born October 10. 1880. 4. Marina A., born March 14. 1884.

Alvah H. Martin. Colonel James Green Martin, son of Colonel James Green Martin (q. v.) and Maacah (Foreman) Martin, was born at Mount Pleasant. Norfolk county, Virginia, April 16. 1829, died in August, 1880. He was very popular with the people; was made colonel in the militia and practiced law in the city of Norfolk, where he was at one time a partner of Judge E. P. Pitts. who was formerly circuit judge of the first district.