Martin was born on May 11, 1830, in the Province of Brabant, Belgium.[2] After working as a clerk during his young adult life, Martin immigrated to Philadelphia and started studying English.[2] He married fellow Belgian immigrant Fannie Gillon there in 1853; the couple had their first child in 1855 or 1856.[2] The family moved to Red River, Wisconsin, in 1859 and took up residence there.[3]
During his time in Red River, Martin was a land dealer and insurance agent.[2][4] In 1866, he was elected to a one-year term in the Wisconsin State Assembly.[2] He was a Democrat in his political views.[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.[1] Martin moved on from elected positions to become a government assessor in 1867, something that tied in well with Martin's previous experience as a prominent real estate dealer in northeastern Wisconsin.[2]
1870 was a pivotal year in Martin's life; his wife had a second child but then perished along with both children later in the year.[2] Also in that year, Martin married New York native Mary Louisa Rosenberg.[2] In his professional life, Martin stepped into new roles as a United States Marshall, postmaster of Red River and town chairman of Red River, a position he held for another four years.[2][1] He was also a local justice for five years and superintendent of Kewaunee County schools for two years in the early 1870s.[2]
In 1874, Martin moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and served on the school board from 1885 to 1892.[2] He died on June 16, 1894, at age 64.[2]