George
W. Martin
George W. Martin, postmaster, is a son of Anderson C. and Louisa (Buchanan)
Martin, both natives of Lincoln County, Tenn., and both of Scotch-Irish lineage.
The father was a farmer by occupation, was a State senator, and also held
various county offices. The mother died in 1861 and the father in 1882. Of their
three children, a daughter is dead, and one son is an extensive wool grower in
Texas. The other son, our subject, was born near Fayetteville, Tenn., January
20, 1854, and received the common education of the average farmer boy. He
subsequently attended the University of Tennessee, aiding himself by working on
the college farm, by driving an ice wagon on the streets of Knoxville during
vacation, by filling the positions of janitor and tutor, and by doing anything
that presented itself. He graduated with second honors in the class of 1877;
after which he engaged with his brother in sheep husbandry in Texas. Through the
influence of a college friend he secured the chief clerkship in the Chattanooga
postoffice in 1880. Though under Republican rule, he retained that position,
faithfully discharging the duties of his office, until 1885, when the change of
administration opened the way to the position of postmaster for him. He has
always been a firm supporter of Democracy. His promotion to the postmastership
was a triumph of the principles of civil service reform, of which he is a stanch
advocate. His appointment gave general satisfaction to the citizens of
Chattanooga irrespective of party, and as a public servant he eschews politics
and attends strictly to business. Referring to his management of his office, the
civil service reformer said, "Postmaster Martin furnishes a good model for
the President who appointed him." In 1882 he married Miss Flora C. Benton,
of Coldwater, Mich., by whom he has three children: Mabel, Kenneth and Elaine.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of
which be is a ruling elder.
Goodspeed's
"History of East Tennessee" 1887