Background
Robert Martin was born in Frankfort Springs, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
Robert Martin was born in Frankfort Springs, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
He read law and began practice in Ohio. Moving from Wichita, Kansas, he settled in Harrison, Oklahoma Territory, in 1889. He worked for the adoption of the Organic Acting.
After a move to El Reno, Martin was appointed Secretary of Oklahoma Territory in 1890. at the same time United States President Benjamin Harrison appointed George Washington Steele as Oklahoma Territory"s first Governor.
Serving as Governor Steele"s second-in-command of the Territory, Martin assumed the governorship when Steele resigned on May 22, 1890. Martin would serve as acting governor until President Harrison appointed Abraham Jefferson Seay on February 1, 1892.
He later moved to Guthrie where he was elected Mayor. Martin died in Guthrie and is buried in Summit View Cemetery, Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma.