He was the son of Enos T.T. Martin and Cornelia Williams Martin.
On September 3, 1872 as John Williams Martin, he married Ann Elisabeth Swift at Trinity Church at Geneva, New York.

Retired Captain, 4th United States Cavalry.
John Williams Martin, the scion of a distinguished New York family, was born at "Willowbrook", the Throop-Martin estate on Lake Owasco near Auburn. Known as "Jack", he was the son of lawyer-journalist Enos T.T. Martin and his wife Cornelia (nee Williams) and a grand-nephew of former New York governor Enos Thompson Throop. The eighth of eleven siblings, Jack enjoyed an affluent childhood in a stimulating political and cultural atmosphere, as his parents and Governor Throop entertained a stream of 19th Century luminaries, among them Washington Irving, William Seward, President Grant, George Armstrong Custer and Jenny Lind.
A natural sportsman and outdoorsman, Jack particularly thrived on Willowbrook's abundant opportunities to go hunting, fishing and shooting and was attracted to military life.
Three of his sisters married generals: Civil War notables Emory Upton and A.J. Alexander and Wilber E. Wilder, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism during the Indian Wars. Intent on becoming a soldier himself, Jack was appointed to the USMA at West Point, but disliked life as a cadet and dropped out.
For a short time he pursued a business career in Albany, but soon regretted his decision to leave the Army and subsequently returned to enjoy a successful career as cavalry officer. A heart condition necessitated his retirement and he spent his last years as a gentleman farmer in Avon, New York.
He died while in California, at the age of 52. Predeceased by his parents, four siblings and an infant son, his survivors included his wife, the former Elizabeth Swift and his sisters Miss Cornelia Martin, Mrs. A.J. Alexander, Mrs. Grenville Tremain and Mrs. Wilber E. Wilder. He was also survived by two brothers: George and Edward Sanford Martin, the noted editor and essayist.