He attended the common schools and clerked in stores and the post office, before moving to Tecumseh, Shawnee County, Kansas in 1855.

He was elected assistant clerk of the first house of representatives in the Territory in 1855; county clerk and register of deeds 1855-1857; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1856 and commenced practice in Tecumseh; justice of the peace 1857; county attorney of Shawnee County 1858-1860; postmaster of Tecumseh 1858-1859; deputy United States attorney 1859-1861; reporter of the State supreme court 1860; moved to Topeka and practiced law in 1861; member, State house of representatives 1871-1875; unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor in 1876 and for the United States Senate in 1877; district judge 1883-1885; unsuccessful candidate for election to the Fiftieth Congress; unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1888.

Martin was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate on January 25, 1893, to fill the remainder of the term left vacant by the death of Preston B. Plumb.

The presiding officer allowed two “rump legislators” to vote for Martin while excluding the rest of the illegitimate body.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the "rump house" was the legal legislature, disbanding the body which elected Martin.