Martin "Little Mart" Archer was born January 25, 1862 to Thomas Archer and Jane Wolfington.  Martin had nine other siblings. Martin's siblings were:

• James (b) 1855
• John (b) 1854
• Charles (b) 1858
• Samuel (b) November 4, 1857
• Annie (b) 1864
• Andrew (b) 1867
• Albert (b) 1870
• Aurilla (b) 1873
• Thomas (b) August 8, 1875

Little Mart was a young criminal and had joined forces with two other members of the Archer Gang.  In July 1882, Martin "Little Mart" Archer, Samuel Marley (Thomas Acrher's nephew by marriage), and Sam Bunch stole some logs that were being transported down the White River headed for Illinois.  Samuel Marley and Sam Bunch proceeded to sell the logs and to not give Little Mart his fair share of the money.  Needless to say, Little Mart was very upset and the other's decided to murder Little Mart versus paying him his share of the money.  Samuel Marley was the trigger man who shot Little Mart on July 8, 1882.

Many of Martin's siblings would also lead a tragic life of crime; John would be hung at Shoals in March 1886, Sam would follow by being legally hung in July 1886, Andrew was incarcerated within the Indiana prison for larceny in 1886, and Albert was in Reform School when his father and brother were hung.