Today in History for Oct. 25, 2014

James Dellet of Monroe County in 1840.

Oct. 25, 1819 - In anticipation of achieving statehood, Alabama's first state legislature assembled at Huntsville, the temporary capital, while the Cahaba capital was being constructed. The General Assembly, as it was called, was composed of 19 senators and 47 representatives from Alabama's 19 counties. Thomas Bibb of Limestone County was elected President of the Senate, while James Dellet of Monroe County was elected Speaker of the House.

Oct. 25, 1844 – Richard Francis Burton passed the regimental language exam for Maratha.

Oct. 25, 1845 – Daniel McCool was commissioned as Monroe County’s Circuit Court Clerk. He would be recommissioned for additional terms on Aug. 13, 1849 and Aug. 17, 1853.

Oct. 25, 1861 - The keel of the Union ironclad “Monitor” was laid at the Continental Iron Works at Greenpoint, Long Island.

Oct. 25, 1862 - U.S. President Lincoln wired General George McClellan: "I have just read your dispatch about sore tongued and fatiegued [sic] horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietam that fatigue anything?" Lincoln replaced McClellan with Ambrose Burnside a little over a week later.

Oct. 25, 1863 – During the Civil War, a second day of skirmishing occurred at Tuscumbia, Ala.

Oct. 25, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes occurred on the Gadsden Road at Turkeytown and near Round Mountain, Ala.

Oct. 25, 1914 – Fire destroyed a house on Bruner Avenue in Evergreen that belonged to Dr. H.B. Williamson. The cause of the fire was unknown.

Oct. 25, 1914 - Miss Salina Faulk died near Monroeville “after a lingering illness, aged about 65 years.” She was survived by two sisters and numerous other relatives.

Oct. 25, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Essie Lewis of Greenville “died from disease.”

Oct. 25, 1929 - Alber B. Fall of U.S. President Warren G. Harding's cabinet, was found guilty of taking a bribe. He was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $100,000. Harding was descended from plantation owners in Conecuh County, Alabama.

Oct. 25, 1930 – A big “Terrapin Race” was held in Evergreen at 2:30 p.m. on the Conecuh County Courthouse lawn. The event was sponsored by the Lions Club of Evergreen.

Oct. 25, 1936 – Foster Brooks, the 26-year-old son of Evergreen Mayor J.R. Brooks, was killed instantly in a car accident around 8:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 31, about one mile north of Flomaton. Others in the car who were injured included Mack Binion Jr., Stanton Coker, Bob Kendall Jr., Clinton Hyde and William McGehee. Brooks was an assistant superintendent of the city’s light and water department. His death was described as “perhaps one of the worst shocks the citizens of this city have ever experienced.”

Oct. 25, 1941 - Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in Huntsville for the U.S. Army's Redstone Ordnance Plant. Renamed Redstone Arsenal in 1943, the installation produced conventional artillery ordnance during World War II, but in 1949 became the Army's missile and rocket development center. Led by German scientist Wernher von Braun, Redstone developed the rocket system that propelled the first U.S. satellite into space.

Oct. 25, 1945 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Sgt. Harmon Rabren of Evergreen had received a citation for “heroic” actions on April 4, 1945 at Wildergovern, Germany. On that night, a five-man reconnaissance patrol became lost and failed to return. Rabren, a member of Co. B, 309th Infantry Regiment, volunteered to go out alone and locate the lost patrol despite extreme darkness and heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. He found them after several hours, risking capture by the enemy, and guided them to safety without any losses and with important information about enemy defensive positions and possible crossing sites on the Sieg River.

Oct. 25, 1947 - The Army football team was defeated by Columbia, 21-20. The team had gone unbeaten in 32 games that spanned four seasons. They had earned two national titles in the same time frame.

Oct. 25, 1954 – Criminal Court opened in Conecuh County with three murder cases on the docket. Everette Green, a young boy from near Castleberry, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the killing of his father, Edward Green, in spring 1954. Leroy “Goo” Rankin was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing of Idell Knight at Burnt Corn. Quincy Tate was charged with second-degree murder in a case continued from Spring Court.

Oct. 25, 1962 - American author John Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature.

Oct. 25, 1964 - Cotton Davidson of the Oakland Raiders threw for 427 yards in a 40-7 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Oct. 25, 1964 - Jim Marshall of the Minnesota Vikings picked up a San Francisco fumble and ran the wrong way 66 yards into his own team's end zone for a safety.

Oct. 25, 1971 – Major League pitcher Pedro Martinez was born in Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic.

Oct. 25, 1978 - Gaylord Perry became the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues when he won the award in the National League.

Oct. 25, 1981 - David Woodley of the Miami Dolphins passed for 408 yards in a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Oct. 25, 1981 - Brian Sipe of the Cleveland Browns threw for 444 yards in a 42-28 victory over Baltimore.

Oct. 25, 1986 - The Boston Red Sox lost Game 6 of the World Series to the New York Mets. The winning run was scored in the 10th inning when a ground ball went through Boston first baseman Bill Buckner's legs.

Oct. 25, 1987 - The Minnesota Twins defeated St. Louis in the first World Series to include indoor games. It was the first championship for the Twins.

Oct. 25, 1998 - Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos kicked a 63-yard field goal. The kick tied Tom Dempsey's 28-year-old NFL record.

Oct. 25, 1998 - Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers set an NFL record when he caught a pass in his 184th consecutive game. Also during the game, Rice became the first player to surpass 17,000 career receiving yards.

Oct. 25, 1998 - Cris Carter of the Minnesota Vikings broke the team record when he caught a pass in his 106th straight game. He also tied Bill Brown's Minnesota record of 76 career touchdowns in the 34-13 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Oct. 25, 2003 - Bobby Bowden of Florida State became the winningest coach in major college football history with his 339th victory.

Oct. 25, 2005 - The Chicago White Sox defeated the Houston Astros, 7-5, in the first World Series game to be held in Texas. The game also was the longest in World Series history at 5 hours and 41 minutes. The game actually ended on Oct. 26.

Oct. 25, 2009 - The New York Yankees won their 40th American League pennant.