[p. 473] president of
the People's National Bank of Ellwood
City and general manager of the Steel Car
Forge Company, of the same place, has
been actively identified with Ellwood City
interests since 1899. He was born at Carlisle,
Pa., September 11, 1862, and is a son
of John and Eliza (Abrahams) Martin.
The Martins are of Scotch extraction. Three brothers came to America together and after landing separated, one going to Tennessee, where his descendants survive; the second locating in Virginia, one of his descendants being United States Senator Martin, and the third, who was the grandfather of Charles A. Martin, of Ellwood City, settled in Pennsylvania, establishing his home in Cumberland County, near Pine Grove Furnace. There Richard Martin and his wife lived during the remainder of their lives. John Martin, father of Charles A., was born in Pine Grove Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He subsequently became general agent for F. Gardner & Sons, dealers in farm implements, and was the first man to establish an agency for this line of goods in the South after the close of the Civil War. He continued in this business until within a few years of his death, which occurred June 1, 1905, when he was aged seventy-nine years. He married Eliza Abrahams, who still survives, aged eighty years. They had three sons: Samuel A., Charles A. and John H. Samuel A. Martin is foreman of the Altoona pattern shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; and John H. Martin is superintendent of the car service of the Berwin White Coal Company.
C. A. Martin graduated from the public schools of Carlisle at the age of sixteen years. In 1879 he entered the employ of the Government at Washington, D. C., in the House Document Room, and later, for two years, served as private secretary to Hon. F. E. Beltzhover, member of Congress from the district made up of Cumberland, York and Adams Counties. From 1883 to 1888 he was connected with the motive power department of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Altoona, and for eleven subsequent years served as secretary of the Water Commission for the city of Altoona, sent there by the Pennsylvania Railroad when it was increasing the water supply and building the reservoirs in the Horseshoe Bend. On December 25, 1899, Mr. Martin came to Ellwood City and in November, 1900 he was made general manager of the Steel Car Forge Company. The People's National Bank of Ellwood City was organized May 9, 1907 and since that time Mr. Martin has been at its head as president. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Standard Engineering Company and during 1896-7 was its president.
The People's National Bank of Ellwood City has a paid in capital of $50,000. Although it has been doing business but a little over one year, its bank statement shows a healthy condition and encouraging prospects far beyond natural expectation. It does a regular banking business, pays 3 per cent on savings accounts and time deposits, and by its careful, conservative methods and uniform courtesy has gained the full confidence of corporations, capitalists and the plain people of this section. The names of its officers and directors give strength to any enterprise with which they are associated. The president is C. A. Martin; the vice-president is J. E. Van Gorder; and the cashier is J. E. Cobler. The directors of the bank are: C. E. Martin, E. P. Mellon, Morris Keller, A. C. Knox and J. E. Van Gorder.
The Steel Car Forge Company, of Ellwood City, of which C. A. Martin is general manager, is also an important factor in the industrial life of this community. It was founded by James Baker for the purpose of manufacturing wagon hardware about 1894. Business was started under the title of the Baker Forge Company, which continued until 1899, when it became the property of the Steel Car Forge Company. Its present officers are: John M. Hanson, president; C. W. Wright, secretary; T. A. Gillespie, treasurer; and C. A. Martin, general manager. The plant at Ellwood City occupies seven and one-half acres and employment is given 700 men, high class workmen, who are paid commensurate wages. The specialty is car work, with forging and drop forging. This was the first plant in the country to turn out mechanical blacksmithing which was formerly done by men over the anvils. It is the policy of the company to train its own men, initially employing an intelligent class of labor and judiciously promoting from the ranks those most competent. The different plants, all connected with the Standard Steel Car Company, are situated, at Ellwood City, Butler and New Castle, Pa., and at Hammond, Ind. The finished products goes to every part of the civilized globe. To be general manager of so large an enterprise requires particular talents, a wide range of knowledge and executive ability far beyond the ordinary.
In October, 1891, Mr. Martin was married to Miss Ella Robeson, who is a daughter of John W. and Emily (Cadwallader) Robeson, residents of Altoona, Pa., where Mrs. Martin was born, reared and educated. They reside at the Hotel Lawrence, at Ellwood City. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, is chairman of its board of trustees and is a teacher in and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. Since locating at Ellwood City he has taken no active part in politics. In fraternal life he belongs to Logan Lodge, No. 79, Knights of Pythias, Altoona, which is one of the largest lodges of this organization, and is also a member of Centennial Castle, No. 3, Knights of the Golden Eagle at Altoona and of Conclave No. 792 of the Improved Order of Heptosophs, of Ellwood City. He is a member of the Ellwood City Board of Trade and has been active in all matters tending to the advancement of the borough. Mr. Martin is a fine example of the benefits that may be derived from athletics and outdoor amusements, in which he takes an enthusiastic interest.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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