Martin M. Levering was born on April 6, 1871 in Greenwood, Jackson County, Missouri but his family later moved to Los Angeles, California. He finished his studies in public schools and college in California Normal School (California Normal School Yearbook 1891). He became a lawyer in 1892. He came to Manila in September shortly before the December 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar on December 2, 1899 and in 1902 he set up a Manila law firm with another American lawyer J. B. Early as partner, thus Early and Levering Law firm. In Manila, Levering organized the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) in 1902 before leaving for Cebu.

In Cebu he continued both his law practice as partner in the law firm of Wood and Levering. He became a lawyer of American and later Filipino and Chinese business firms (see Verrall 1907). His involvement in local business led to the founding, together with John M. Switzer, of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce early in 1903. He then organized two companies that joined the Chamber: the Cebu Telephone Company (now PLDT-Cebu) in 1903 and two years later, the Bryan and Landon Electric Company together with Robert R. Landon and Anthony Bryan (now VECO). Levering also helped in setting up another important member of CCC, the Philippine Railway Company-Cebu, together with Chairman J. G. White and President Chaz. M. Swift.

Levering also got involved in the emerging local politics and became a close associate of young lawyer Sergio S. Osmeña. It was Levering who helped Osmeña in establishing close connection with the American government functionaries in Cebu which in turn helped in launching Osmeña’s political star from local to national prominence (Cullinane 1989: 224-225).