U.S. Data Repository -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: History and Progress of the County of Marion, West Virginia by George A. Dunnington, Publisher 1880 Pen Sketches of Prominent Citizens HON. BENJAMIN F. MARTIN. Though at present not residing in Marion, Mr, Martin is a native of the county and spent a great portion of his life here. He was born near Farmington, October 2, 1828. He is a son of Jesse Martin, of that place, upon whose farm he lived and worked until he was twenty-one years of age. He was chiefly educated at Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pa., where he graduated with college honors in June, 1854. After returning from college he taught school in Fairmont for eighteen months, during which time he studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice in March, 1856, removing in the following November to Pruntytown, where he has since resided. In 1872 Mr. Martin was a member of the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia, and was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore the same year, voting against the nomination of Horace Greeley. In the campaign which followed, however, he yielded him active and earnest support. In 1872, he was a candidate for Congress from this district, on the Democratic ticket against Hon. J. M. Hagans. Both candidates claimed the election and the seat was contested--resulting in the declaration of the election of Hagans. In 1876, Mr. Martin was elected to the Forty-sixth Congress, and in 1878 he was re- elected. His term of office expires January 1, 1881. Mr. Martin is an efficient and faithful Representative and is very popular among the people of his district.