• MARTIN BROS. LEMON GROVE SHOWING RESERVOIR IN FRONT; SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS IN BACKGROUND
OLDEST LEMON GROVE A SPLENDID PRODUCER
Owned by Martin Brothers Who Will Ship This Season Over 6,000 Boxes of Lemons
When you ask any of the old timers in this section of the valley, who owns the oldest and best producing lemon grove, nine times out of ten you will be told the Martin Brothers, and then if you care to inquire further you will also learn that E. C. and J. J. Martin are counted among the oldest settlers in the Foot Hill district.
They are native sons of Illinois, but soon after finishing school there they came to Sunny California and located here. In the fall of 1893 they bought the thirty acres of land which today is spoken of as the oldest and best lemon grove in the valley. That year ten acres was cleared and prepared for planting and the following year was set to lemons, and was followed later by setting to navel and Valencia oranges. For the first few years it took continual hard work and the development was anything but easy sailing. But they finally began to get things in shape and bought additional land which they planted to oranges and lemons. These trees, however, are not all in full bearing, but the orange grove promises to be as fine a producer as has been the lemon grove, and of an excellent variety of navel and Valencia oranges.
The Martin Brothers’ Ranch now comprises fifty acres located approximately seven miles from the Pomona City Hall, on the Base Line road, in the Foot Hill district. It is well improved and in a high state of cultivation. They have a perfect irrigation system and own their own pumping station, which furnishes an abundance of water for their own use and a surplus which is sold to neighboring ranchers. The fact that they have one of the best producing groves in the entire valley is self-evident that their selection of land and the careful development of some has not been in vain. Hundreds of others throughout this valley have had equally good success, but it takes lots of work, good judgment and the scientific handling of the fruit to be able to market a yield as great as does the Martin Brothers groves. This year they have already shipped over 5000 boxes and will ship for the season over 8000 boxes of citrus fruits.
In line with other substantial improvements they have made on their place, their home is a conspicuous part. They recently erected a handsome two-story residence, containing seven rooms and with every modern convenience to be found in the best city homes. It is located close to the Base Line thoroughfare, with the San Gabriel mountains in the rear, as will be seen by the picture above with Old Baldy just peaking above the range, showing its snow-capped crown, the year ‘round, making a magnificent background to a landscape already beautiful.1018

• Citrus holdings sold in 1954.1295

• Elias Charles Martin
One of the well-known, old-time citizens of the Pomona Valley, and an early citrus developer, was Elias C. Martin, who came to the Pomona Valley with his parents about sixty years ago.
Born in Rockford, Illinois, on September 5, 1869, his father and mother were Philetus S. and Flora Martin. He attended school in his native town and prior to coming to California worked at various jobs in that locality.
When still a young man, Elias Martin and his brother, John, purchased thirty acres of land north of Base Line in Claremont, which they cleared and planted to citrus. They gradually increased their holdings until their property amounted to sixty-eight acres, all planted to citrus, part being lemon and part orange; they also developed water for the property. On this property, Mr. Martin erected an attractive home where his widow continues to reside.
Mr. Martin was a director for many years of the College Heights Citrus Association; also of the Exchange Lemon Products Association at Corona. His religious affiliation was with the Trinity Methodist Church of Pomona and, fraternally, he was a Mason.
Mrs. Martin’s maiden name was Anna Parker. She came to the Pomona Valley in 1893 from Illinois and met and married Mr. Martin here. She has been active in church work and also in the Eastern Star.
The one daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin is Mary Louise, the wife of Allin Axford. There are two grandchildren, Mary Ann and Martin Allin Axford.1027

• Funeral Services Scheduled Today For E. C. Martin
Funeral services for Elias C. Martin, for 50 years a resident of this community, will be held today at 3:30 in Todd and Reeves chapel at Pomona. He died Tuesday morning at the age of 70 following a long period of failing health.
Mr. Martin was born Sept. 5, 1869, in Rockford, Ill., and came to California 52 years ago. He was a pioneer of this area in citrus culture, having set out one of the first groves on Baseline road 50 years ago.
He assisted the organization of Trinity church in Pomona and was active in church work until his death. His death marked the end of a long and significant service to the citrus industry. He was a director of College Heights Orange and Lemon association and the Exchange Lemon Products company in Corona.
Mr. Martin was a member of the Claremont Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite of Pasadena.
Besides his widow, Anna P. Martin, he is survived by one daughter, Mary Louise Martin, who lives at the family home; and two brothers, John G. Martin of Pomona and Walter W. Martin of Pasadena.2324

• 1870 Census: Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois. Age 8/12ths, b IL.1691
• 1880 Census: Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois. Age 10, b IL. Father b IL; mother b NY.1709
• 1900 Census: Pomona, Los Angeles, California. Age 30, b Sep 1869, IL. Furniture salesman. Father b IL; mother b NY.1749
• 1910 Census: La Verne, Los Angeles, California. Age 40, b IL. Father b IL; mother b NY.1775
• 1920 Census: La Verne, Los Angeles, California. Age 50, b IL. Farmer, citrus growing. Father b IL; mother b NY.6048
• 1930 Census: San Jose twp., Los Angeles, California. Age 60, b IL. Farmer. Father b IL; mother b NY.3637

• Pomona City Directories
1896-7: horticulturist, 659 N Town ave.1017
1898: rancher, r 659 N. Town.1017