Today in History for July 19, 2014

Harper Lee's father, A.C. Lee of Georgiana.

July 19, 1799 – The “Rosetta Stone” was found by one of Napoleon’s soldiers about 35 miles north of Alexandria, Egypt. Containing fragments of Greek and Egyptian, the stone held the key to translating hieroglyphics.

July 19, 1863 - Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's raid into Union-held territory was dealt a serious blow when a large part of his force was captured as they tried to escape across the Ohio River at Buffington Island, Ohio. Cut off from the south, Morgan fled north with the remnants of his command and was captured a week later at Salineville, Ohio.

July 19, 1864 – Confederate soldier Lewis Lavon Peacock was admitted to General Hospital at Howard’s Grove in Richmond, Va. for acute diarrhea.

July 19, 1880 – Amasa Coleman Lee (Harper Lee’s father) was born in Georgiana.

July 19, 1906 – Monroeville marshal C.E. Hunter overheard an incriminating conversation between two men in seats near him on the train between Monroeville and Peterman, which led him to arrest C.S. Bowen, who was wanted for shooting and killing Charles Revill in Opp on July 12.

July 19, 1914 – Sarah Cunningham, wife of the late Dr. William Cunningham, passed away at the age of 91. She was one of Conecuh County’s oldest residents.

July 19, 1950 – Army PFC Ernest C. South of Covington County was killed in action in Korea.

July 19, 1954 - The first part of J.R.R. Tolkein's “Lord of the Rings,” “The Fellowship of the Ring” was published on this day.

July 19, 1963 – Moundville Archaeological Site near Tuscaloosa, Ala. was named a National Historic Landmark.

July 19, 1964 - The TV show “The Twilight Zone” aired its final episode on CBS after a five-year run.

July 19, 1986 - Chon Mitchell of Evergreen High School was crowned Conecuh County’s 1987 Junior Miss at the 1987 Junior Miss Pageant held at the new Wiley Salter Auditorium at Ed Reid State Technical College.

July 19, 1990 - Two enlisted men stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina lost their lives when the 1988 Ford Ranger they were riding in went over a bridge on I-65 at the 106-mile marker. Their truck was airborne for over 100 feet before landing on its top at the bottom of the bridge some 34 feet down. The accident took place just inside the Conecuh County line.

July 19, 2007 – Longtime Monroe Journal columnist and paranormal investigator George Buster Singleton passed away in Monroeville.