Dr. David Burbank, a dentist with a large ranch property in the hills north of Los Angeles, is known today as the "Father of Burbank" more information. He sold his property in 1886.

In about 1906, the portion of the property containing Dr. Burbank's old ranch house was purchased by two brothers -- Stephen Adelbert Martin (my great-grandfather), and possibly his elder brother Frank. Stephen A. Martin was born in Kansas in 1869 or 1870, and had come to the Los Angeles area sometime after 1880, with his mother and possibly Frank and/or a sister. Stephen and perhaps Frank had then lived for a time in Downey and Los Nietos, near Downey, Los Angeles County, and there, in 1900, Stephen met and married Minnie Martin Swartz, a young divorced woman with a small son named Martin (he would eventually take the last name Martin and be known as Martin C. Martin or Marty Martin). Stephen was about 36 years old when he bought the Dr. David Burbank ranch house property in Burbank, and he took with him his wife Minnie, his stepson Martin Swartz (then age 9), his son Howard (age 4), and his daughter Frances (age 1).

According to an article about son Howard G. Martin, in the "Burbank Community Book",

"Howard G. Martin comes from one of Burbank's oldest families. He is the son of Stephen A. and Minnie L. Martin, and was born in Downey, California, December 27, 1902. His mother was also born in California. The family moved to Burbank when Howard Martin was only four years old, and lived for a time in a part of the old Dr. David Burbank ranch. Ultimately, his father purchased forty acres of land which he farmed successfully for many years, finally selling the property to Warner Brothers in 1927, when he retired and went to Grants Pass, Oregon to reside."

The sale of the Martins' hog ranch was actually made to First National Pictures, who bought a total of 78 adjoining acres of land (including the Martins' 40 acres) in 1926. In 1928, the young Warner Brothers company purchased First National Pictures, and moved their offices to the Burbank property when the amalgamation was completed in 1929. Today, Warner Bros. Burbank Studios still stands on the site of our Martin family's old hog ranch.  I tell my children this whenever we see the Warner Bros. insignia at the beginning of a movie... "Children, look!  Warner Bros. Studios, on the site of our family's old hog ranch!"

In early 1920's, even before the ranch was sold to First National Pictures, it was used as a movie location. My great-grandmother, Minnie Martin ("Minnie Mamma") was a wonderful hostess to the movie casts and crews who visited there. The Burbank Historical Society has several large photos of the Martin family and ranch in the early 20's.

From Burbank: An Illustrated History by E. Caswell Perry. p. 44. The caption reads,

"An unidentified film crew and cast pose in 1925 at the back of the Martin home. Originally built by David Burbank, the house later became part of the Warner Bros. backlot. Courtesy, The Burbank Historical Society"

On page 49:

The caption reads,

"At the time of this picture in about 1920, David Burbank's home was owned by the Martin family and had been partially restored. The Martin family farmed forty acres of the old Burbank ranch for many years before selling the land to First National Pictures in 1926. Courtesy, The Burbank Historical Society."

These photos were reproduced on this website with the permission of the Burbank Historical Society. Two more photos, one of the Dr. David Burbank / Martin house, and one of a barn on Dr. Burbank's property, are found at the Burbank Historical Society's photo page.

The Martin family at their ranch, in the 1910 and 1920 U.S. Federal Census - Burbank, Los Angeles County, California:

1910: Burbank Precinct, Burbank Town. Dwelling no. 35, family no. 36.

• Martin, Stephen A.- head of family, age 40, married (1st), married for 10 years, born in Kansas, father born in New York and mother born in Rhode Island, Farmer of Gen. Farm, employer
• Martin, Minnie L. - wife, age 35, married (2nd), married for 10 years, 4 children - all living, born in California, father born in Texas and mother born in Virginia
• Swartz, Martin - son, age 12, born in California, father born in Kansas and mother born in California
• Martin, Howard G. - son, age 7, born in California, father born in Kansas and mother born in California
• Martin, Frances D. - daughter, age 4, born in California, father born in Kansas and mother born in California
• Martin, Kenneth S. - son, age 1 and one month, born in California, father born in Kansas and mother born in California
• Walch, Charley - hired man, age 51, married (1st), married for 3 years, born in United States, parents also born in United States, Farmer, Works out
• Walch, Hilda - servant, age 56, married (2nd), married for 3 years, five children, born in Germany, parents also born in Germany, servant (house servant)
• Barnett, Henry B. - boarder, age 33?, single, born in California, father born in Georgia and mother born in Arkansas, Nurseryman, Fruit Nursery?

(Henry) Bascomb Barnett later moved up to Northern California, married an opera singer, and had a son and a daughter. However, after several years his wife died. Eventually (perhaps after his children had grown up and left home?) he went back to his old job with the Martins, now in Oregon (where Stephen and Minnie had moved with their by then grown-up son, Kenneth). Bascomb Barnett was related to our family on Minnie Mamma's side, by marriage.  In his old age he was a beloved and much valued member of the Martin family household in Oregon. He was a magician with plants, and was like another grandfather to Kenneth's three children in the 1940's and 50's. He lived to be 85 years old, passing away in 1959.