Cemetery vandalism brings tragedy, volunteerism to light

By James McAndrews

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Christopher Columbus Baker was a prominent early Modestan whose family tragedy of 120 years ago recently made its way back into local headlines.

Baker, a Kentucky native, made the trek to California after the news of the discovery of gold reached his family in Missouri. The 19-year-old, along with his father, traveled across the plains, reaching the San Joaquin Valley in 1849.

Settling near the Tuolumne River, Baker made his first money in sheep and cattle before turning to the even more lucrative business of wheat farming. He would eventually come to own nearly 4,000 acres in Stanislaus County.

Baker had a significant role in the development of the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts — on the opposing side. He was part of an obstructionist campaign against the districts.

In early summer 1865, he married Cornelia Frances Griffin. In all, they had 10 children, but only four grew to adulthood.

In 1887, their 2-year old son, Archie, died after a fall from a windmill. On Sept. 10, 1889, the afternoon heat drove three of the Baker sons, George W., age 8; Oliver, 11; and Christopher, 13, to the Tuolumne River for a swim. Joining the brothers was a companion named Walter Garrison.

Even when the river was low it was still dangerous, and an hour later young Walter returned to the Baker house and reported, between sobs, "The boys are drowned in the river."

Workers on the Baker farm ran to the river and soon found the body of Christopher. "He was in a deep hole made by the eddying of the current when the river was swiftly flowing," according to the account in George H. Tinkham's "History of Stanislaus County."

The sun was setting behind the coastal mountains by the time George's body was found. By torchlight, the search continued, and some hours later the body of the third Baker boy was located.

The children were buried in the Modesto Cemetery and the funeral was the largest the county had seen to that time.

Last fall, the Baker family made news again. Late the night of Nov. 29 or early in the morning of Nov. 30, the Modesto and Pioneer cemeteries on Scenic Drive were vandalized. Among the graves that were damaged were the memorials for the Baker boys. The three white towers that the Baker family had put up for their sons were found lying on the ground.

The names of those responsible for the damage remain unknown, but in early December, volunteers took time to repair the vandalism.

Members of the Modesto City Firefighters Association, E Clampus Vitus and other local residents helped clean up the damage and also restored the Baker boys' towers to their proper place.

This monument to the Baker boys will continue to serve as a reminder of the 19th-century tragedy but now also will show future generations how 21st-century Modestans pulled together to right a wrong in their community.

McAndrews is a docent and board member of the Great Valley Museum. Tinkham's 1921 "History of Stanislaus County" was the primary source for this article. McAndrews can be reached at columns@modbee.com.