Oliver Martin was born on April 18, 1900, in Stokes County, North Carolina. Martin enlisted for military service during World War I in August 1917. He went absent without leave on November 17, 1917, but was returned to his unit, Battery F of the 113th Field Artillery. Martin was wounded in action while serving overseas and was honorably discharged from the service in March 1919. Martin died in Sanford (Lee County) on August 14, 1979.