Today in History for Oct. 16, 2014

Sargent Shriver in 1961

Oct. 16, 1691 – In connection with the Salem witchcraft trials, villagers vow to drive minster Samuel Parris out of Salem and to stop contributing to his salary.

Oct. 16, 1777 – Itinerant Methodist minister and author Lorenzo Dow was born in Coventry, Conn. As he passed down the Old Federal Road through Conecuh and Monroe Counties, he is believed to have delivered the first Methodist sermon in Alabama in 1803.

Oct. 16, 1814 – The “London Beer Flood” occurred in London, killing eight.

Oct. 16, 1840 - Benjamin Faneuil Porter, a doctor and lawyer who lived in Claiborne for about six years, before becoming a state legislator, judge and Mayor of Greenville, presided over the “Harrison Convention” in Tuscumbia.

Oct. 16, 1854 - An obscure lawyer and Congressional hopeful from the state of Illinois named Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech regarding the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which Congress had passed five months earlier. In his speech, the future president denounced the act and outlined his views on slavery, which he called "immoral."

Oct. 16, 1859 - Abolitionist John Brown led a small group on a raid against a federal armory and arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an attempt to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery.

Oct. 16, 1863 - U.S. President Lincoln appointed General Ulysses S. Grant to command all operations in the western theater.

Oct. 16, 1864 - Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest began moving part of his force to Johnsonville, Tennessee. Most of his men were not in place until early November. On Nov. 4, Forrest attacked the Union supply base at Johnsonville.

Oct. 16, 1864 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred near Huntsville, Ala.

Oct. 16, 1869 - The Cardiff Giant, which turned out to be one of America's most famous hoaxes, was "discovered.”

Oct. 16, 1879 - Rev. William C. Morrow died in Evergreen. He was a Presbyterian minister and his first assignment as a minister was at the Old Flat Creek Church at Turnbull in Monroe County, Ala.

Oct. 16, 1887 – John Tillman Melvin was born in Selma. While serving as a Naval lieutenant aboard the USS Alcedo, he would become the first U.S. Naval officer killed in World War I when the ship was torpedoed by a German sub on Nov. 5, 1917.

Oct. 16, 1912 - New York Giants outfielder Fred Snodgrass dropped an easy pop-up in the 10th inning of the tiebreaking eighth game of the World Series against the Red Sox. His error led to a two-run Boston rally and cost the Giants the championship.

Oct. 16, 1917 - Serving aboard the USS Cassin, Alabamian Kelly Ingram became the first American serviceman killed in action during World War I. In 1918, the Navy named a destroyer after Ingram, marking the first time an enlisted man had a ship named in his honor. Congress later awarded Ingram the Medal of Honor and the city of Birmingham named Ingram Park after the Pratt City hero.

Oct. 16, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Charlie Johnson of Repton “died from disease.”

Oct. 16, 1926 – Journalist, author, poet, radioman and teacher Riley Kelly was born in Excel. A graduate of Emory University and World War II Navy veteran, he worked for the Frisco City Sun, The Monroe Journal and WMFC. His books include “In Search of Light” (1969), “Patterns,” (1970), “The Human Way” (1974) and “Prize Cache” (1974).

Oct. 16, 1960 - The National League voted to admit Houston and New York to the league. It was the first organizational change to the league since 1900.

Oct. 16, 1969 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Seaman Don C. Hansen of Evergreen was serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy in the Mediterranean when the JFK hosted a two-day tour by Sargent Shriver, U.S. Ambassador to France; Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of the late John F. Kennedy; their family and high ranking French and military guests.

Oct. 16, 1969 – The Evergreen Courant reported that former Evergreen High School football standout Homer Faulkner of Evergreen was the starting punter at Livingston University, where the 185-pound junior averaged 41.2 yards per kick in 1968.

Oct. 16, 1972 – Former Alabama quarterback Joe Namath appeared on the cover of TIME magazine.

Oct. 16, 1973 – Evergreen police officers, Henry Vickrey and Johnny Blackmon, and police dispatcher Snow Turner witnessed a UFO in downtown Evergreen just after midnight. They reported watching an “unusual light” in the sky for 15 to 20 minutes and news of the incident was reported nationwide in newspapers and on television and radio broadcasts.

Oct. 16, 1974 – Former Evergreen Courant publisher and editor Robert Gaston Bozeman Sr. passed away at the age of 77 and was buried in Evergreen’s Magnolia Cemetery. He was inducted into the Alabama Press Association Hall of Honor in 1980.

Oct. 16, 1984 - Evergreen weather reporter Earl Windham reported 1.81 inches in Evergreen.

Oct. 16, 1993 – As part of the 1993 Conecuh Heritage Festival, comedian Jerry Clower performed at Brooks Memorial Stadium in Evergreen, starting at 7 p.m. The River Road Band opened for Clower.