[2] Due to poor living conditions, he was sick as a child and didn't walk until he was almost 6 years old.

[1] He was mechanically inclined and keen at fixing things and even opened his own business that allowed him to quit his job at the coal mine, although he always dreamed of becoming a teacher.

[2] Martin immigrated to the United States with a Mormon missionary[2] in April 1902, moving to Provo, Utah.

His family later followed in 1904,[1] and Martin moved to live with them in American Fork, Utah, where his dad opened a jewelry shop.

[2] Martin graduated from high school in 1908 and attended Brigham Young University (BYU).

[1] After three years at the Academy,[2] Martin entered Cornell University[3] in 1915 to obtain his doctorate degree.

[5] After obtaining his PhD, Martin got a job as a teacher at Millard Academy in Hinckley, Utah.

[1] Shortly after moving to Millard County, he was also hired as the soil man for the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company.

[2] Martin was hired at Brigham Young University by school president Franklin S. Harris in 1921.

Martin even helped place Ezra Taft Benson at Iowa State University in 1927.

[2] His wife Hattie died in 1950,[1] and Martin left teaching to go on an eight-week trip to Hawaii due to his grief; however, he returned after only three weeks.