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General Note

Accompanying note: "Owens-Martin-Quarterman-Triay family group. Corner of Forsyth + Hogan streets (home of Eduardo Triay son-in-law). Children and grandchildren of Louise Eunice Harris Owens (Mrs. James B. Owens) maternal grandmother of John Wellborn Martin. John Martin had a sister, Alice Maner Martin (Mrs. Abner G. Withee). Marshall Alston Martin, a brother, born after this picture was made."

Man sitting at the left is Eduardo Triay. John W. Martin sitting on the right, second row. Top row, center, are parents Willie Owens Martin and John Marshall Martin, Jr. Front row, 4th from left, sister Willie Louise Martin (later Mrs. Melvin Steele Tucker) and at right is brother Albert Owens Martin. Seated in center, in front of Mrs. Martin and just right of Mr. Triay is maternal grandmother Mrs. James B. Owens.

Biographical Note

John Wellborn Martin, Florida's twenty-fourth Governor (January 6, 1925-January 8, 1929), was born in Plainfield in Marion County on June 21, 1884, the son of John M. and Willie (Owens) Martin. He attended school for four years, then continued his education by study at night. Admitted to the bar in 1914, he began law practice in Jacksonville. He was Mayor of Jacksonville for three terms from 1917-1924 and returned to that city after serving as Governor.

As Governor during a land boom attracting national attention, Martin gave leadership to progressive endeavors which outlasted the speculation. These included the building of highways on a statewide basis, the financing of public schools by direct state appropriations, and the furnishing of free textbooks to all pupils in the beginning six grades. He was defeated for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate and in 1932 for nomination for Governor. Beginning in the 1940s he was co-receiver and subsequently trustee of the Florida East Coast railroad. He died in Jacksonville on February 22, 1958. Martin County, Florida is named for him.