Born in Calderbank, in Scotland, Martin emigrated to the United States in 1868, and in 1870, settled in Pittsburgh.
He joined the Iron and Steel Roll Hands' Union, and later became secretary of its lodge in Columbus, Ohio.
[2][3] In 1889, Martin petitioned Benjamin Harrison for the office of Commissioner of Labor Statistics, with support from several senators and also Andrew Carnegie.
In 1893, he became a co-owner of Eureka Lubricants, and sole owner in 1896, focusing his time on selling the company's products.
He instead became an insurance salesman, and later, as a night manager at Reymer and Brothers, a local department store.