Martha Louise Hames was the daughter of John and Drucilla Hames. She was born in Soquel, California on 10/15/1854 and died in Santa Clara, California on 3/16/1944 at the age of 89.

She wrote a scrapbook (excerpts from it below) that is kept in the California State Library in Sacramento, and thus is a noted historian of early California history.

She was married to Henry Allen Fairbanks on October 21, 1892. They had two children: Gladys Fairbanks and Lyman Nicols Fairbanks.

She is buried in the Soquel IOOF cemetery on the Old San Jose Road, next to her mother, Drucilla, and another family member named Willy, who we think may be a baby brother.

Martha attended many of the annual Soquel Pioneer Picnics and historical tea meetings, where she spoke about the early history of Soquel and of her family. Excerpts from early newspapers in Soquel mentioning her attendance can be found in the Soquel Public Library's historical section.