1870 - 1911

Modesto became the end of the Central Pacific Railroad line, which eventually connected Sacramento to Los Angeles, and was founded on November 8, 1870. Modesto was originally to be named Ralston to honor William Chapman Ralston, the director of the Central Pacific Railroad. When he objected, the town was named Modesto, a Spanish word meaning modest, after Ralston’s modesty.

Modesto sprang up almost overnight with a population of 500. Most of the buildings were erected in the weeks following the arrival of the rail. The majority of buildings in Paradise and Tuolumne City were torn down and moved to Modesto.

On August 6, 1884 the city was incorporated as a municipal city with a population of over 1000 people and a little over ten miles of city streets within its boundaries. These ten miles (since swollen to 640 miles) became the birthplace of the Modesto Police Department. 

In the early years, Modesto was one of the wildest towns of the central valley. To coin a phrase from the era, "The liveliest mining camp, possessed no edge upon Modesto." The infamous “Front”, the area of 9th Street along the railroad front, was known for its saloons and bawdy houses. 

The city’s first law enforcement officer was Constable John Clark. He was known to all the citizens as "Old John Clark" and was completely incompetent for his position. He was called a good man, but incompetent because of lameness, neglect of duty, and he had no desire to arrest a malefactor, especially if he was a friend, much less stop a fight or disturbance.

Constable Clark was the constable of Modesto during its vigilante days. While living at La Grange, he was elected constable, and during his term of office he had a rather unusual experience. This was in 1857 when William D. Kirk, the sheriff of the county, passed away and, for a day, Constable Clark was sheriff. The day following John Myers was appointed sheriff by the supervisors.

In 1881, two town constables were hired and the population had grown to over 2,000 people. The constables were unable to control anything but the very worst crimes.

Tired of the condition of affairs and those men who would not perform their duty and were unable or unwilling to “clean up the town” by lawful means, quite a large number of citizens decided to take the matter in their own hands and by force or intimidation drive out and destroy the property of the criminal class.

The organization of the Vigilantes, known as the “San Joaquin Valley Regulators”, was not a spontaneous uprising like that of a mob, but the work of men who had been planning the movement for several months. It is believed that as many as 250 ranchers, farmers, and businessmen formed the secret organization. In 1884, the Regulators issued written warnings to the undesirables to leave under penalty of death and a great number of these people immediately heeded the warning. Those who did not were dealt with quite harshly by the rope or the gun.

They made several night-time raids closing saloons and running ‘ladies of the evening’, gamblers and thugs out of town. The Regulators also cleaned out the opium dens and gambling houses in the Chinese district on what is now 7th Street in raids on these areas. For all their well-intentioned deeds, there was little change for the better in the criminal class.

Born in Iowa May 11, 1850, a carpenter named Adolphus K. Pritchett was elected as the city marshal in the first city election of August 6, 1884. Marshal Pritchett made no improvement during his time in office, letting things continue ‘status quo’. Marshal Pritchett died June 23, 1928 in San Francisco and is at rest at Modesto Citizens Cemetery. 

Born in 1826, Augustus Hill was a painter when elected City Marshal in the second city election of April 12, 1886. Marshal Hill was also a disappointment as the Modesto Herald reported in January, 1889, ‘The old, decrepit, and rascally city marshal spends his time in playing poker in the various dives that curse our town’. Marshal Hill died July 23, 1907 in San Francisco and is at rest at Modesto Pioneer Cemetery. 

The city election of April 14, 1890 resulted in a fearless lawman who made a great impact on the criminality of Modesto. City Marshal Robert David Young was born in Farmington, San Joaquin County May 23, 1861, graduated in 1876 from the Oakdale High School, and ten years later was engaged in the draying business in Modesto. He was elected marshal on the Democratic ticket and the criminal element soon learned that the newly elected marshal intended to arrest all violators of law, and the result was a strong enmity between the marshal and Barney B. Garner, ‘boss of the Front’.

Barney Garner owned the Marble Palace saloon on the front. He was the leader of the saloon forces in the convention and was known in his day as the boss of the Front. On Saturday evening, August 1, 1890. The Marble Palace was doing a good Saturday night business and, as usual, many persons had congregated in the saloon and on the sidewalk. Garner was abusively drunk and raising a considerable disturbance.

Marshal Young was a new man in the office, untried and inexperienced, but brave and fearless in the performance of his duty. Walking into the saloon and up to Barney, he told Garner to quit the disturbance. Barney believing that the marshal intended to arrest him, stepped back a couple of paces and put his right hand into his pocket, as if to draw a weapon. Quickly drawing his revolver with his left hand, the marshal fired twice. One shot entered Garner's left shoulder, the other his head just above the ear, killing him instantly.

On examination of the corpse, the Coroner found a loaded Derringer pistol, half-cocked, in the right hand pocket. A coroner’s jury was convened and found the shooting was a justifiable homicide.

Marshal Young was wounded in another incident during his tenure on December 25, 1902. He was attempting to arrest Daniel Isom or quell some disturbance in which Isom was a participant and the latter drew a pistol and shot the officer. Young returned the fire and wounded Isom. Both men recovered from their wounds and Isom was placed on trial.

Marshal Young continued to establish law and order in the city. He was elected every year until 1903 and by raising the standard of law and order he added weight to the great reformation of 1911. Had he been marshal in 1884, the organization of the "Regulators" might not have been necessary to clean up the town of criminals. Marshal Young died in Oakland, Alameda County March 4, 1925.

There were at least two city marshal’s elected over the next several years but little is known of their service.

He was born January 2, 1878 in Colorado and died September 2, 1947 in Modesto, Stanislaus County. He is at rest at Acacia Memorial Park, Modesto, Stanislaus County. 

He was born August 1864 in Prairie, Arkansas and died 16 April 1934 in San Jose, Santa Clara County. He is at rest at Mission City Memorial Park, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County. 

1870

• In October, the Central Pacific  Railroad completes the street layout for the new village of Ralston. As late as November 18, it is still referred to by that name in published newspaper articles, as buildings are moved there from the river towns of Tuolumne City and Paradise City.
• At a convention of citizens, William C. Ralston declines the honor of having the village named for him, and, due to his modesty, the location is named Modesto.

1871

• In a contentious election on September 6, Knight’s Ferry loses its status as the county seat to the new town of Modesto.
• Modesto City Schools is established for students in the community.

1872

• Construction begins on the Stanislaus County Courthouse built on property donated by the Central Pacific Railroad on I Street, between 11th and 12th Streets. 
• The first church built in Modesto is the Congregational Church on I Street between 12th and 13th Streets.

1873

• First Methodist Episcopal Church is built at 13th and H Streets.

1874

• Modesto holds its first Fourth of July parade. This yearly patriotic display continues to this day.
• The Brick Schoolhouse, Modesto’s first school, is built at 14th and I Streets. It is also known as Fourteenth Street School.

1875

• Modesto Hook and Ladder Company, a volunteer fire department, is organized.
• St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic parish is established in Modesto. A church is built three years later on 8th Street between J and K Streets and is attended by visiting priests.

1877

• Rogers Hall, a commercial building built at the corner of H and Front Streets, houses the first “legitimate” entertainment space in Modesto on its second floor.

1878

• Modesto Gas Company begins operation. In 1930, PG&E purchases its plant.

1879

• First appearance of vigilante group, The San Joaquin Regulators, formed in an effort to clean up the “murky atmosphere” of Modesto. They would reappear for the last time in 1884.

1880

• Population of Modesto is 1,693.

1881

• Nearly all the businesses on Ninth Street (The Front) are destroyed by fire.
• First Presbyterian Church is built at 14th and I Streets. The church had been organized in 1879.
• Father Patrick Walsh is appointed permanent priest at St. Stanislaus Church.

1883

• McHenry Mansion at 15th and I Streets is built by Robert McHenry (born Robert Henry Brewster).
• There are 40 high school students enrolled in Modesto.

1884

• The Daily Evening News is founded and publishes continuously as a daily newspaper under a variety of names through the present.
• Modesto is incorporated as a municipal city on August 6, with a population of over 1000 people.

1887

• California’s Governor signs legislation March 7 authorizing the creation of irrigation districts. Modesto Assemblyman C. C. Wright introduced the bill. In mid-1887, local voters authorize the formation of Modesto Irrigation District (MID).
• Modesto High School graduates its first class on May 27th. There are seven girls and three boys and the ceremony is held at Rogers Hall. Among the graduates is future mayor and early historian, Sol P. Elias.
• New homes are built east of downtown in the late 1880s.

1889

• Sixth Street School, later changed to Longfellow School, is established at 6th and I Streets. The school is closed in 1926.

1890

• Population of Modesto is 2,402.
• Dr. Thomas Tynan builds a grand Victorian hotel at the corner of H and 10th Streets. The Tynan Hotel has a clock tower without a clock and boasts Modesto’s first elevator, as well as rooms with fireplaces.1891
• Stanislaus County Hospital and Almshouse is built on Scenic Drive. The Victorian structure will survive until 1950, when it is torn down to make way for a modern building.

1892

• Rogers Fountain is placed in the intersection of 10th and I Streets and dedicated on Memorial Day, in remembrance of Rogers’ family members.

1893

• Modesto Ice Company, established by Admer Brown, begins business.
• Modesto Bank Building is constructed at the corner of I Street and 10th Street. It boasts a working clock in its clock tower. The building is remodeled in 1922 and replaced in 1941.

1895

• Modesto Steam Laundry begins operation and continues in business for 114 years until closing during the business recession in 2009.

1900

• Modesto population is 2,024.

1901

• The Stanislaus County Courthouse gets a new Hall of Records.
• Modesto’s first high school building is completed at 12th and L Streets. Eighty-one students attend school there, including eighth graders.

1903

• I.E. Gilbert and Company General Store on the northeast corner of I and 10th becomes Schafer’s. It is underwritten by Oramil McHenry for his brother-in-law, George Schafer.
• First water flows through miles of MID canals to irrigate the fields of Stanislaus County.

1904

• The Modesto Irrigation District Jubilee is held April 21 – 22 to commemorate the opening of the irrigation canals. Trains take visitors from throughout the country on trips to see the irrigated fields of Stanislaus County. The city is ablaze with electric lights. California Governor and Mrs. George Pardee are in attendance.
• The First National Bank of Modesto is completed.

1906

• Oramil McHenry dies and his will bequeaths three 10th Street lots to the city plus $20,000 to build a library. The lots are sold and the library is built at a quieter location.
• Rogers Fountain is moved to Courthouse Park because of increased traffic at its former location in the intersection of 10th and I Streets.

1908

• Modesto Canning Company begins operation on 9th Street. In 1919, it is sold to Pratt-Low Preserving Company and later becomes Flotill, owned and operated by Tillie Lewis.

1910

• Modesto’s population is estimated at 4,034.
• Modesto adopts a new municipal charter.
• George E. Wallace is hired as Modesto’s first paid fire fighter because he is good with horses. He is appointed Fire Chief in 1911, a job he holds for 39 years.

1911

• Real Estate Agent George Wren is elected mayor under the city’s new charter.
• The Cressey Building, consisting of shops and apartments, is constructed on 10th near H Street.

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