Greenbrier County, West Virginia Biography of Charles Alexander MARTIN, M. D. ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , March 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II pg. 238 CHARLES ALEXANDER MARTIN, M. D. Some of the most important service rendered by the medical profession in West Virginia is that given by the physicians and surgeons who attended the cases of illness and injury among the population grouped around the mines. That has been the service of Doctor Martin practically ever since he graduated from medical college, and since 1913 his home and headquarters have been at Amherstdale in Logan County. Doctor Martin was born in Dawson, Greenbrier County, December 5, 1879, son of Obediah C. and Sallie (Lowry) Martin. Obediah C. Martin, who died in 1893, at the age of sixty-eight, was a native of Greenbrier County, son of Joseph Martin, and followed farming and the carpenter trade as his life's occupation and became very well to do. He was a democrat in politics. Doctor Mar- tin has two brothers, Joseph L., in business at Charles- ton, and William L., at Springdale. The mother of these sons died in April, 1880, at the age of thirty-five years. Doctor Martin was five months old when his mother died, and he was reared in the home of her uncle, Thomas Lowry, at Springdale. He attended public school in Fayette County, and he had to make every opportunity count to provide for his own living and secure a higher education. At the age of eighteen he became a teacher, and he taught six terms of school in Fayette County, at $35.00 per month. During 1900 he attended Marshall College at Huntington, and from 1904 to 1908 pursued his medical studies in the Uni- versity of Louisville. In 1919 he again returned to his alma mater for post graduate study. After graduating in 1908 he practiced four and a half years around the mines at Harvey and Fayette County, and then came to Amherstdale, about the time the mines were being opened in this section of Logan County. His practice as a mining physician and surgeon has associated him with the Amherst Coal Company, Proctor Coal Com- pany, Buffalo Eagle Coal Company, Madne Coal Company and Proctor Eagle Coal Company. At one time he had charge of the practice for about eleven mines. Doctor Martin in 1913 married Beulah Thrash of Roane County, West Virginia, daughter of C. C. Thrash. They have two children: Bess and Shirley. Mrs. Mar- tin is a member of the Methodist Church. Doctor Martin is affiliated with McDonald Lodge No. 103, F. and A. M., at Mount Hope, the Royal Arch Chapter of Thurmond, West Virginia Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite at Wheeling, and Beni Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is a member of the Logan County, West Virginia State and American Medical Associations. Doctor Martin has been a personal witness of nearly all the important phases in the development of Buffalo Valley. In 1899 he drove a wagon down the valley, long before a railroad was built or before the operation of the mines was con- sidered.