Stanislaus County, California

Stanislaus County was organized in 1854 from part of Tuolumne County. Stanislaus County was for over twenty years a large cattle-raising county. As such, property constantly changed hands and was frequently sold at sheriff sales settle unpaid debts. It became necessary for the county to mark its stamp or brand upon those animals that were "sold under execution." The county seat was moved from Knights Ferry to Modesto in 1871. [1]

1. George H. Tinkham, History of Stanislaus County California with Biographical Sketches, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1921.