Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Martin, Robert Vincent 1877 - living in 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 15, 2004, 8:27 am Author: William Harden p. 665-667 ROBERT VINCENT MARTIN, M. D. In no profession is there more constant progress than in that of medicine and surgery, thousands of the finest minds the world has produced making it their one aim and ambition to discover more effectual method for the alleviation of suffering, some more potent weapon for the conflict with disease, some clever device for repairing the damaged human mechanism. Ever and anon the world hears with mingled wonder and thanksgiving of a new conquest of disease and disaster which a few years ago would have been placed within the field of the impossible. To keep in touch with these discoveries means constant alertness, and while there may be in many quarters indolence in keeping pace with modern thought, the highest type of physician believes it no less than a crime not to be master of the latest means of science. To this type belongs Dr. Robert Vincent Martin, his constant thought and endeavor being devoted to the profession of which he is so admirable an exponent. Dr. Martin was born in Barnwell county, South Carolina, in 1877, his parents being William E. and Sarah Harriet (Thompson) Martin. The father was born at "Mock Orange" plantation, the ancestral home of the Martins, in Barnwell county, South Carolina, and he and the subject's mother are now residents of Albany, Georgia. Since leaving the plantation early in life, the elder gentleman has been a railroad man. Dr. Martin can trace his genealogy back to 1396, to Sir John Mark-ham, judge of court of common pleas. The doctor's paternal grandfather was John Vincent Martin, of Barnwell county, who was a son of Judge William D. Martin, also of that county. Judge Martin was a distinguished lawyer and jurist and a member of congress from South Carolina. He married the daughter of Dr. Peter Williamson of Edgefield, South Carolina, who was a surgeon of the Revolutionary war. Judge Martin was twice married, his second wife being the daughter of Chief Justice Dorsey of Maryland. The subject's mother, whose birthplace was in Charleston, South Carolina, is of English descent. Her family, as well as that, of the Martins, are descended from ancestors whose names' are promient in colonial and Revolutionary history. One of the first Martins in America was Capt. Abram Martin, a participant in the colonial wars and an early settler from England, of Westmoreland county, Virginia. When Robert Vincent was a young boy, his parents left the old homestead in South Carolina and came to the Forest city, but did not reside here permanently, going from this city to Macon. In the latter city the subject received his preliminary education. He early decided to adopt the medical profession as his own and to gain the necessary preparation he matriculated in the Charleston Medical College of the state of South Carolina, from which he was graduated with the class of 1904. He went thence to New York City and entered the department of health, and during his connection therewith he was on duty particularly in that branch of the department devoted to contagious diseases. For his work in said department he was granted a diploma and his training thus received was of remarkably valuable character. Following this he served as interne in the New York City hospital, and from this entered the lying-in hospital as interne, receiving diplomas from both of these institutions. His work in these hospitals gave him a very wide range of experience for the beginning of his work as a regular practitioner. Dr. Martin began his practice in Savannah in April, 1906, and has established a splendid name for himself as a physician and surgeon. He is a member of the staff of the Georgia Infirmary. With the county, state and American medical associations he has affiliation and he has served as second vice-president of the First Congressional District Medical Society. He is a member of the Landrum lodge of Masons and finds no small amount of pleasure in his relations with the ancient and august order. He has taken an active part in local military affairs; he joined the First Regiment of Infantry, National Guard of Georgia, becoming first lieutenant on March 28, 1907, and subsequently was promoted to his present rank, that of major of the medical department. On January 8, 1913, Dr. Martin was united in marriage to Annie, daughter of McDonald Dunwody and great-granddaughter of Gov. C. J. McDonald of Georgia. Additional Comments: A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA BY WILLIAM HARDEN VOLUME I ILLUSTRATED THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1913 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/chatham/bios/gbs207martin.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb