The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 506 THOMAS L. MARTIN. Thomas L. Martin. president of the Yakima Abstract & Title Company and also engaged in the insurance business in Yakima, was born in Dodbridge county, West Virginia, in 1867, a son of Luther and Ann M. (Harrison) Martin. The parents, leaving the Atlantic coast, made their way across the country to Yakima and spent their remaining days in the Pacific northwest, both being laid to rest here. The father was engaged in the lumber business in West Virginia for forty years. Thomas L. Martin acquired a public school education, supplemented by study in the Vest Virginia University. He arrived in Yakima on the 1st of December, 1888, and served as deputy sheriff under Dan Lesh. He was afterward active along various lines of business until 1903, when, in connection with Fred Chandler, he purchased the business of the Yakima Abstract & Title Company, which was organized in 1882 by Mrs. Kate Tyler, formerly Kate Fuerbach, who was one of the early auditors of the county. This was the first abstract company formed in Yakima county. The business had passed through various ownerships, being ultimately taken over by the firm of Chandler & Martin, but Mr. Chandler sold his interest to Mr. Martin, who now conducts the abstract business alone. He is also interested in the insurance business as a member of the firm of Martin & Miller. On the 14th of January, 1904, Air. Martin was married to Mrs. Dora (Allen) Brooke, of Yakima, and they now have a daughter, Virginia Harrison. Mr. Martin votes with the republican party, having long supported its principles and with firm belief in its policy. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and in Masonic circles has attained high rank, having membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery at Yakima and in Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.