Fred C. Martin

Fred C. Martin was born in Bennington, Vermont on 9 June 1882, a son of William Martin and Georgianna (Collins) Martin.^[2] He was raised and educated in Bennington and graduated from Bennington's high school in 1900.^[2] After high school, he joined Bennington's Holden-Leonard Company, makers of woolen goods, as an office boy.^[2] Company executives recognized his talents for management and administration, and by 1912 he had advanced to office manager.^[2] Martin was also a director of Bennington's County National Bank and the Bennington Cooperative Savings and Loan Association.^[2] Martin was eventually appointed executive vice president of County National, then its president.^[1] He was also a longtime board member for Bennington's library, and was the board's secretary for over 20 years.^[2]

A Democrat in politics during the 100-plus years when Republicans won every statewide election, Bennington's voters chose Martin for local office despite his party affiliation; he served as village president from 1909 to 1912 and again from 1922 to 1935.^[2] Martin's civic and fraternal affiliations included Freemasonry; he was a member of Bennington's Mount Anthony lodge for most of his life.^[2] In addition, he served as high priest of Bennington's Temple Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, a member of the Knights Templar, and the Cairo Temple of the Shriners.^[2] Martin also belonged to the Bennington Country Club, the Elks, and the Bennington Club.^[2] He was also a trustee of Green Mountain Junior College in Poultney.^[3]

In 1912, Martin was elected to represent Bennington in the Vermont House of Representatives; during his term the beginning end ending dates for state offices was changed from October to January, so Martin's two-year term was extended from October 1914 to January 1915.^[2][4] He was a delegate to the Democratic national conventions of 1912, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936.^[1][2] During the protracted nomination battle for president in 1924, Martin made headlines when he received one Vermont delegate's vote for president on the 29th ballot.^[2][5] Martin was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1920, 1924, and 1938.^[2][6] In 1928, 1932 and 1934, he received the Democratic nomination for US senator.^[2][6]

When Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932, Martin received his appointment as Vermont's US Internal Revenue Collector.^[7] He continued to receive successive reappointments during Roosevelt's administration and served in this position from July 1933 until his death.^[1][8] He died in Bennington on 10 April 1945 and was buried at Centre Cemetery in Bennington.^[1][3]