Today in History for Jan. 6, 2018

Early Alabama riverboat, the Nettie Quill.

Jan. 6, 786 – Abo of Tiflis, Iraqi martyr and saint, was executed in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Jan. 6, 1412 – Saint Joan of Arc was born in Domrémy, Duchy of Bar, France.

Jan. 6, 1660 – A French language edition of De Rochefort’s book included a letter written on this day from Edward Graeves, one of the directors of the European colony at Melilot. It very accurately described the flora and fauna of North Georgia, which included large herds of both bison and elk. The mentioning of bison being in Georgia was one of the reasons that New England academicians dismissed De Rochefort’s book. Georgia’s bison disappeared around 1752, probably due to a European cattle disease and over-hunting.

Jan. 6, 1702 - French colonists from Biloxi unloaded goods at Massacre Island to be used for the establishment of Fort Louis de la Louisiane on a bluff 27 miles from the mouth of the Mobile River.

Jan. 6, 1777 - After two significant victories over the British in Trenton and Princeton in New Jersey, General George Washington marched north to Morristown, New Jersey, where he set up winter headquarters for himself and the men of the Continental Army.

Jan. 6, 1799 – American hunter, explorer, and author Jedediah Smith was born in Bainbridge, New York.

Jan. 6, 1814 – The Town of Blakeley was incorporated by authorization of the House of Representatives of the Mississippi Territory on the northern end of Mobile Bay in present-day Baldwin County, Ala. Established by Joseph Blakeley, the town was the scene of the last major defense of Mobile, Ala. by Confederate troops during the Civil War. Blakeley was also the southern end of the extension of the Federal road.

Jan. 6, 1821 – General Andrew Jackson was appointed military governor of Florida. He arrived in Tallahassee with a camp chest containing a treasured memento, a black candle that was found in the tent of British General Cornwallis after his surrender of British forces at Yorktown, Virginia, to General George Washington. Jackson was asked to light the black candle every year on Jan. 6, which was the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. Jackson was unhappy in his role as governor and resigned seven months later. Rachel, his wife, who enjoys the pleasure of her pipe in public as well as in private, was not very popular with the ladies of Tallahassee.

Jan. 6, 1827 - Confederate General John Calvin Brown, who served in the Army of the Tennessee during the Civil War, was born in Giles County, Tenn. He was wounded three times, including at Chickamauga in September 1863. After the Civil War, he served two terms as the governor of Tennessee and was a railroad president.

Jan. 6, 1836 - The family of William Cooley had been killed at their home on the New River (Fort Lauderdale) when a band of Seminoles attacked their coontie plantation. This attack created panic among the settlers. The Cape Florida lighthouse keeper John DuBose took his family to Indian Key and then on to Key West. Many other families of New River and the Biscayne Bay area also fled to Key West for protection. The settlers then petitioned the government for additional protection. On this day when the petition failed and no help was being sent, the settlers decided to remain at Key West.

Jan. 6, 1851, Focault's Pendulum experimentally proved that the Earth rotates on its axis.

Jan. 6, 1855 – Italian jurist, explorer and author Giacomo Beltrami died in Filottrano, Italy.

Jan. 6, 1861 During the Civil War, the U.S. Arsenal at Apalachicola, Fla. was seized by Florida State Troops. It is of interest that this action was taken before Florida seceded from the Federal Union. Florida did not secede until Jan. 10.

Jan. 6, 1863 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Fort Lawrence, Beaver Station, Mo., where Confederate Brigadier General Jon Sappington Marmaduke burned Fort Lawrence.

Jan. 6, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Dalton, Ga. and Flint Hill, Va. An attack was also carried out on the steamer Delta on the Mississippi River in Mississippi. A 15-day Federal operation against Navajo Indians also began in the New Mexico Territory.

Jan. 6, 1864 – Colonel Kit Carson reported on the results of his tactics in the rounding up of the Navajo: “Judging from the appearance of these captives, the generality of the Navajos are completely destitute. They are almost entirely naked, and had it not been for the unusual growth of the Pinon-berry this year, they must have been without any description of food. This is owing to the destruction of their grain amounting to about two Millions of Pounds by my command…which they depended on for their Winter’s Sustenance. The dread of being discovered by my Scouting parties which are continually in the field, prevents them building fires for warmth…”

Jan. 6, 1864 – Col. Kit Carson, called “rope thrower” by the Navajo, led 14 officers and 375 men from Fort Canby to the west entrance of Canon de Chelly. A company of soldiers under the command of Captain Pfeiffer entered from the east entrance on this day, and then marched west. The result of the 16-day Canon de Chelly attack was 23 Navajo killed, 34 captured, 200 who voluntarily surrendered, as well as seizing 200 head of sheep.

Jan. 6, 1865 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Huntsville, Ark.

Jan. 6, 1873 – The construction of the Escambia County Courthouse at Pollard, Ala. was completed. The courthouse burned in 1879, and arson was suspected as the cause of the fire.

Jan. 6, 1878 – Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Carl Sandburg was born in Galesburg, Ill.

Jan. 6, 1883 – Poet Khalil Gibran, the third-best-selling poet in history (behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu) was born in the mountain village of Bsharri, Lebanon.

Jan. 6, 1896 - Fanny Brown, a woman who lived near Monroeville, Ala., was burned to death on this Monday morning. “She was standing near the fire when her clothing caught fire and were literally burned off before assistance rescued her,” The Monroe Journal reported. “The poor woman found relief from her sufferings only in death which ensued after a few hours.”

Jan. 6, 1909 – The Evergreen Courant reported that D.H. Howell of Shreve said that a belled buzzard had been in his neighborhood for several days. He was curious to know where the belled bird came from.

Jan. 6, 1909 – The Evergreen Courant reported, in news from the Hadley community, that the church building and Masonic lodge had just had put on a new coat of paint.

Jan. 6, 1909 – The Evergreen Courant reported, in news from the Owassa community, that Owassa had “been growing rapidly. Mr. Will Brooks’ new dwelling will soon be ready for occupancy. G.A. Yates has moved into his new store. They Myers’ Bros. new store is nearing completion. The Methodist Episcopal parsonage is also nearing completion and material has been placed on the ground for the M.E. church.”

Jan. 6, 1910 – National Book Award-winning novelist, critic, and photographer Wright Morris was born in Central City, Neb.

Jan. 6, 1912 - New Mexico became the 47th U.S. state.

Jan. 6, 1916 – The Conecuh Record reported that M.A. Travis had been appointed as chairman of the Conecuh County (Ala.) Tax Equalization Board.

Jan. 6, 1916 – The Conecuh Record reported that W.J. Travis, who was charged with the killing of “Dr. Nall” in McKenzie, Ala., had his bail set at $1,500.

Jan. 6, 1916 – The Conecuh Record reported that a “new and valuable acquisition” had been added to the library at Conecuh County High School in Castleberry, Ala. – a 24-volume set of the International Encyclopedia.

Jan. 6, 1916 – The Conecuh Record reported that the “colored population observed emancipation day with music and marching and speechmaking.”

Jan. 6, 1916 - The Conecuh Record reported that Record editor J.C. Whitcomb had “been confined to his bed for the past two or three weeks with typhoid fever.”

Jan. 6, 1916 – In this day’s edition of The Monroe Journal, publisher Q. Salter remarked that this edition of the newspaper marked its 49^th year of publication. During those years, The Journal had only five publishers: Z.D. Cottrell, 1866; S.M. Davidson, 1867-69; James McLaughlin, 1870-74; H.R. Hood, 1875-1886; and Salter, 1887 to date.

Jan. 6, 1916 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and “little daughter” had spent Christmas with relatives at Finchburg, Ala. Elsewhere in that week’s edition, it was reported that A.C. Lee had visited his old home at Bonifay, Fla. during the previous week.

Jan. 6, 1916 – The Monroe Journal reported that Dr. F.S. Dailey of Tunnel Springs had been appointed County Health Officer for Monroe County for 1916.

Jan. 6, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. William H. Harris of Flat Rock, Ala. “died from disease.”

Jan. 6, 1919 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Wade Shavers, 24, of Garland, Ala. “died from disease.” Born on Nov. 16, 1894, he was buried in the Maye Cemetery in Butler County, Ala.

Jan. 6, 1919 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Warb Moton of Camden, Ala. “died from disease.”

Jan. 6, 1919 – Between 4 a.m. and 4:15 a.m., the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, died in his sleep at Sagamore Hill in Cove Neck, N.Y. a result of a blood clot detaching itself from a vein and entering his lungs. He was 60 years old.

Jan. 6, 1920 – National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn was born in Hartford, Ala. Nicknamed “Gus,” he went on to play for the Washington Senators, the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

Jan. 6, 1921 – The Iraqi Army was officially formed on this day.

Jan. 6, 1921 - The historic Downing House in Castleberry, Ala. was completely destroyed by fire on this Thursday about noon. “This was probably the most historic home in Conecuh County,” according to The Evergreen Courant. “According to old residents who have personal knowledge of it, the house was constructed about the year 1858 by Judge Henderson, who was judge of probate while the courthouse was at Sparta and before the railroad was completed. It was in course of construction but the track had not been laid. The site for the depot had been selected and Judge Henderson determined to build his home opposite the station. The structure was in fine state of preservation and would have lasted many more years.”

Jan. 6, 1926 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Captain John Quill, 87, of Mobile, had died recently in Boston. Quill for many years owned a number of river boats running out of Mobile. The two best known were the John Quill and the Nettie Quill.

Jan. 6, 1926 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Daniel Cook Sr. of Camden had announced his candidacy for the state senate from the 22^nd district.

Jan. 6, 1930 - The Hat Shop, a well-known store dealing in ladies’ hats, located over Binion Grocery and Feed Co. in Evergreen, Ala., was scheduled to move on this Monday to the store formerly occupied by jeweler J.H. Dey, who had moved his business to the new store next door to Evergreen Motor Car Co.

Jan. 6, 1931 – Novelist E.L. Doctorow was born Edgar Lawrence Doctorow in the Bronx.

Jan. 6, 1942 - The National Collegiate Football Rules Committee abolished the Y formation.

Jan. 6, 1942 - Alabama author Charles Gaines was born in Jacksonville, Fla.

Jan. 6, 1945 – Essayist and fiction writer Barry Lopez was born in Port Chester, N.Y.

Jan. 6, 1946 – The first general election ever in Vietnam was held.

Jan. 6, 1946 – A tornado struck the Peterman, Ala. community early on this Sunday morning, causing one death and wrecking several homes. The home of D.L. Downs was torn to pieces by the tornado, and Downs was so badly injured that he died early on the following Monday morning. Striking near the Downs home, the wind tore out a path in a northerly direction, crossing the highway north of Peterman. A house on the east side of the highway, in which 10 people were living, was reduced to splinters, and one of the occupants was injured. The wind made a clean sweep of all timber in its path.

Jan. 6, 1954 – National Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop and second baseman Rabbit Maranville died at the age of 62 in Woodside, Queens, New York. During his career, he played for the Boston Braves, the Pittsburg Pirates, the Chicago Cubs, the Brooklyn Robins and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954.

Jan. 6, 1956 - Novelist Elizabeth Strout was born in Portland, Maine.

Jan. 6, 1958 - A Memphis businessman and two companions, en route to Florida in a private plane, made an emergency landing on Highway 84 in front of Claude Murphy’s Store on this Monday, according to The Evergreen Courant. The plane ran out of gas, so the man brought it down in the highway. He made the landing okay, the plane suffering slight damage to the wings. The man and his companions caught a bus back to Memphis and left the plane moored at the station to be picked up in a few days.

Jan. 6, 1959 - Alabama author Octavus Roy Cohen died in Los Angeles, Calif.

Jan. 6, 1960 – The Associations Law came into force in Iraq, allowing registration of political parties.

Jan. 6, 1960 – Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He went on to play for Villinova and the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Jan. 6, 1961 – Three young Monroeville residents – Alton Sturdivant, David Brown and Kenneth Johnson – killed a 35-pound bobcat while coon hunting on this Friday night in the Limestone Creek swamp north of Monroeville, Ala.

Jan. 6, 1964 – Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end and linebacker Charles Haley was born in Gladys, Va. He would go on to play for James Madison, the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Jan. 6, 1967 – During the Vietnam War, United States Marine Corps and ARVN troops launched "Operation Deckhouse Five" in the Mekong River delta.

Jan. 6, 1969 - Mark Norman Reedus was born in Hollywood, Fla. He is best known for his role as Daryl Dixon in the AMC series “The Walking Dead.”

Jan. 6, 1971 – During the Vietnam War, the Army dropped charges of an alleged cover-up in the My Lai massacre against four officers. After the charges were dropped, a total of 11 people had been cleared of responsibility during the My Lai trials.

Jan. 6, 1974 – Major League Baseball second baseman Marlon Anderson was born in Montgomery, Ala. He would go on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets, the Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Tampa Bay Devils Rays and the Washington Nationals.

Jan. 6, 1974 – Very few Mandan survived the smallpox epidemic of 1837-1838. To survive, they intermarried with the Arikara and Hidatsa. The last full-blooded Mandan, Mrs. Mattie Grinnell died on this day at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rose Fournier, in Twin Buttes, North Dakota at 108 years old. According to a Jan. 14, 1975 Bureau of Indian Affairs news release, she had her own theory on her longevity.” I still use Indian medicine. That's why I’m over 100 years old.”

Jan. 6, 1975 – As related to the Vietnam War, Phuoc Binh, the capital of Phuoc Long Province, about 60 miles north of Saigon, fell to the North Vietnamese.

Jan. 6, 1976 - Ted Turner purchased the Atlanta Braves for $12 million dollars.

Jan. 6, 1976 – Actor and martial artist Johnny Yong Bosch was born in Kansas City, Mo. He is perhaps best known for his role as the Black Power Ranger in the Power Ranger franchise.

Jan. 6, 1976 – Actor Danny Pintauro was born in Milltown, N.J. He is best known for his role as Jonathan Bower on the popular American sitcom “Who's the Boss?” and his role in the 1983 film “Cujo.”

Jan. 6, 1976 – Monroeville, Ala. firefighters extinguished an electrical fire at the WMFC radio station in Monroeville, and while at that scene, the fire alarm went off at Monroe County Hospital. Firefighters determined that an apparent malfunction in the hospital’s fire alarm system caused it to go off, Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Everett said. The day before, a home on Michael Street was heavily damaged by fire while firemen and city water company employees attempted to get enough water from two low pressure fire hydrants to extinguish the blaze.

Jan. 6, 1992 – Hansford Cooper, 54, of Evergreen, Ala. escaped serious injury when the 1989 Ford Bronco he was driving was struck by a train in downtown Evergreen. This was the second vehicle-train collision in downtown Evergreen in as many weeks.

Jan. 6, 1994 – Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston was born in Hueytown, Ala. He went on to play for Hueytown High School, Florida State and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jan. 6, 1997 - Peter O'Malley announced that the Los Angeles Dodgers were for sale. The team had been owned by his family for 47 years.

Jan. 6, 1998 - Barry Switzer resigned as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Jan. 6, 1998 - The Dallas Cowboys signed lineman Larry Allen to a six-year deal worth more than $3.5 million a year.

Jan. 6, 2002 - Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys became the first running back in the NFL to run gain 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons.