W. F. Martin
W. F. Martin, proprietor of the W. F. Martin Real Estate and Insurance Agency, at Toronto, O., is one of the representative, reliable and prosperous business men of this place. He was born on a farm in Island Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, August 9, 1876, and is a son of William B. and Emeline (Wallace) Martin.
The parents of Mr. Martin are both deceased, the mother passing away at Toronto in 1905. The father afterward went to California, where his death occurred September 9, 1909. During his active years he was engaged in farming.
W. F. Martin was five years old when his parents moved to Toronto and his education was secured here in the common and high schools. Afterward he learned the watchmaking trade in the Denber works, at Canton, O., and engaged in the business at Toronto for fifteen years. In August, 1908, he turned his attention in another direction and in this enterprise has found success attending his undertakings. He purchased the real estate and insurance business formerly conducted by Frank T. McClain and has greatly enlarged its scope, having the agency of fourteen fire insurance companies, these being the leading ones of the country: Continental, of New York; Germania, of New York; Firemen, of New York; Glens Falls, of New York; Royal Exchange, of New York and London; Cincinnati Underwriters; Western & Southern, of Oklahoma; Pittsburgh Underwriters; German, of Pittsburgh; Buckeye, of Cincinnati; German, of Wheeling; Keystone Underwriters, of Pittsburgh; Spring Garden, of Philadelphia, and the Century, of Cincinnati. Mr. Martin handles a large amount of real estate and his operations extend as far south as Alabama.
Mr. Martin married Miss Carrie L. Maxwell, a daughter of Basil Maxwell, of Steubenville, O. He is not very active in politics but belongs to a number of fraternities including the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Jr. O. U. A. M.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910