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Biography On September 18, 1879, Edward Martin was born in Ten Mile, Washington Township, Greene County Pa. He was the son of Joseph Thomas Martin, a local school director, and Hannah M. Martin. His parents were well-to-do farmers and sheepherders who descended from Scotch-Irish immigrants in the mid-1600's. His early education was in a one-room school house called Hazel-Greene. Followed by enrollment at Monongahela College in 1895 before transferring to play football and earn his bachelor of arts degree in pre-law from Waynesburg College in 1901. College was interrupted in 1898 to serve in the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War. He returned home in 1899 as a Sergeant, and despite having contracted Malaria, he completed his degree work. After joining the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1900, he was commissioned as a first lieutenant by the time he graduated. After studying law, Martin was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1905 and began his law practice in Waynesburg, Pa. That same year he was promoted to Captain. Martin married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Charity Scott, Dec. 1, 1908. They soon became parents of a son, Edward Scot, and then a daughter Mary Charity. Martin continued to practice law and was promoted to Major in the National Guard. He began his career in politics when he became a state Republican committeeman in 1912. Martin earned Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart for his service in WWI. He served with the 109th and 110th Infantry Regiments in 5 major campaigns in France from 1917-1919 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Martin was one of the few soldiers to narrowly escape a direct shell hit on his headquarters. He also survived a near miss by friendly forces and was gassed by German forces. It took him 2 years to recover from the effects of mustard gas. After WWI he returned to his law practice and began to invest in oil and gas businesses. He amassed a great fortune, before losing it all in the Great Depression. He continued to serve in the National Guard and was promoted to Colonel in 1919, and Brigadier General in 1922. While another war approached in 1939, Martin was promoted to Major General in command of Pennsylvania's 28th National Guard Division. When the U.S. was attacked by Japan Dec. 7, 1941, Martin was 62 years old. He had already served in the National Guard for 40 years, but he was ready to serve again. By then the National Guard was federalized and Martin, in command of the 28th, assisted in the preparation of troops and supplies as well as leading training maneuvers in N.C. By April 1, 1942, Army regulations required Martin to be released from active duty due to his age. Martin was far from ready to retire, and went on to become Governor of Pennsylvania. Martin was the first Governor since William Bigler in 1854, to be elected to the Senate. Martin retired from public life in 1958 and returned to his home of Washington, PA. Edward Martin died March 19, 1967 and is buried in Green Mount Cemetery in Waynesburg, PA.
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