Martin, Robert, attorney politician, businessman. Born, Breaux Bridge, La., March 6, 1853. Son of Simeon Valery Martin and Marie Francoise Celima Deblanc. Education: local schools; Louisiana State University, B.S. read law under Judge Alcibiades DeBlanc, and admitted to Louisiana bar. Practiced law, St. Martinville, Louisiana, until 1930. Married, April 25, 1878, Gabrielle Berard, daughter of Balthesar Berard and Artemise LeBlanc. Children: Joseph James (b. 1881), Claude Chester (b. 1882), Willis Patrick (b. 1886), Marie Louise (b. 1892), and Ruth (b. 1894). Member of State Board of Education. Founder of Bank of St. Martinville, 1893, president of bank, 1893-1929. State senator, 1896-1900, authored Act 162 of 1898 which established Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, now University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Member of first board of trustees of that institution (1899-1908) and served again from 1923-1931. Martin Hall on UL Lafayette campus named in his honor. Member of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville La. Died, St. Martinville, March 28, 1932; interred St. Michael Cemetery.

Note: Biography taken from A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, volume 1