[2] After working as a clerk during his young adult life, Martin immigrated to Philadelphia and started studying English.
[3] During his time in Red River, Martin was a land dealer and insurance agent.
[5] Martin was among the first Belgian-Americans from northeastern Wisconsin to make it to the Assembly; the group also included Joseph Wery, Benjamin Fontaine, John B. Eugene and Grégoire Dupont.
[2] Also in that year, Martin married New York native Mary Louisa Rosenberg.
[2] In 1874, Martin moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and served on the school board from 1885 to 1892.