On This Day: Joseph James Cassidy, April 21, 1909

On today’s “On This Day” post, I am featuring my maternal great grandfather, Joseph James Cassidy. He was born on Thursday, April 21, 1909, in Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. His parents were George E. Schopferer and Emma L. Elliott. At the time of his birth, Theodore Roosevelt was the President of the United States.

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Local Newspaper Headlines on April 21, 1909

“Mutiny Among Japs? Soldiers and Sailors of the Mikado Reported to have Protested Against the Peace Terms—Repressive Measures.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“Gorki Interviewed. Thinks Russia’s Colonial Expansion Should End.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“Carter’s Slayer Taken After Hard Fight. His Captor Fatally Slashed with Razor in Desperate Encounter in Trolley Car. Now in West Chester Jail.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“Farmer Found Slain in Wagon. Details of the Murder of John W. Carter of Near Brandywine Summit.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“Brave Rescue by a Policeman. Patrolman Jones Dashes up Three Flights of Stairs and Saves Mrs. Donlon. Blaze at Seventh and Tatnall Streets.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“Veterans’ Great Day. Wilmington saw the Biggest Crowds in its History—National Encampment of Union Veteran Legion Formally Opened. Delegates Welcomed by Officials.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

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Famous Events on April 21st

1814 – Francis Scott Key wrote the poem Defence of Fort McHenry that would later be used as lyrics of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

1901 – U.S. President William McKinkey dies after an assassination attempt. He is succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt.

1917 – Russia is officially proclaimed a republic.

1959 – The Soviet probe Luna 2 crashes onto the Moon, becoming the first man-made object to reach it.

1972 – “The Waltons” premiered on television

1975 – The first American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, is canonized by Pope Paul VI.

2001 – Historic National Prayer Service held at Washington National for victims of the 9/11 attacks.

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Famous People Born on April 21st

1769 – Alexander von Humboldt, German Scientist and Explorer

1879 – Margaret Sanger, Birth Control Activist

1944 – Joey Heatherton, American Actress

1962 – Robert Herjavec, Businessman and Television Personality

1969 – Tyler Perry, American Actor, Director, Writer, and Producer

1971 – Kimberly Williams Paisley, American Actress

1973 – NAS, American Rapper

1983 – Amy Winehouse, English Singer/Songwriter

On This Day: Madaleine Leech, March 25, 1904

On today’s “On This Day” post, I am featuring my maternal great grandmother, Madaleine Leech. She was born on Friday, March 25, 1904, in New Castle County, Delaware. Her parents were George Henry Leech, Jr. and Louisa Esther Mustin. At the time of her birth, Theodore Roosevelt was the President of the United States.

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Local Newspaper Headlines on March 25, 1904

“Port Arthur Blocked? Report that the Japanese have Succeeded in Sinking Their Ships at the Entrance but it Lacks Official Confirmation.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“House to Act on Swayne Case. Impeachment Proceedings will be Presented by Representative Palmer of the Committee Today.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“Against Edison. Judge Bradford Dismisses the Litigation of the Noted Inventor in District Court.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“Council to Borrow. Ordinance for Body to get $50,000 to Meet Expenses of Present Year. Members are Responsible.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

“Accused of Bigamy. George A. Christopher Married the Second Time Only Eight Days Ago is Confronted by First Wife Whom He Thought was Dead.” ~ The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware.

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Famous Events on March 25th

708 – Pope Constantine succeeds Pope Sisinnius as the 88th pope.

1199 – King Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France, leading to his death on April 6th.

1306 – Robert the Bruce becomes King of Scots (Scotland).

1584 – Sir Walter Raleigh is granted a patent to colonize Virginia.

1655 – Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is discovered by Christiaan Huygens.

1807 – The Slave Trade Act becomes law, abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire.

1807 – The Swansea and Mumbles Railway, then known as the Oystermouth Railway, becomes the first passenger-carrying railway in the world.

1947 – An explosion in a coal mine in Centralia, Illinois kills 111.

1948 – The first successful tornado forecast predicts that a tornado will strike Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

1965 – Civil rights activists led by Martin Luther King, Jr. successfully complete their 4-day 50-mile march from Selma to the capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.

1969 – During their honeymoon, John Lennon and Yoko Ono hold their first Bed-In for Peace at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel (until March 31).

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Famous People Born on March 25th

1347 – Catherine of Siena, Italian Philosopher, Theologian, and Saint

1867 – Gutzon Borglum, American Sculptor, who designed Mount Rushmore

1922 – Eileen Ford, Co-Founder of Ford Models

1928 – Jim Lovell, American Captain, Pilot, and Astronaut

1934 – Gloria Steinem, American Feminist Activist

1937 – Tom Monaghan, Founder of Domino’s Pizza

1942 – Aretha Franklin, AmericanSinger/Songwriter and Pianist

1947 – Elton John, English Singer/Songwriter, Pianist, Producer, and Actor

1965 – Sarah Jessica Parker, American Actress, Producer, and Designer

1971 – Sheryl Swoopes, American Basketball Player and Coach

1982 – Danica Patrick, American Race Car Driver

1984 – Katharine McPhee, American Singer/Songwriter and Actress

On This Day: Eliza Jane Wright, October 6, 1897

On today’s “On This Day” post, I am featuring my paternal great grandmother, Eliza Jane Wright. She was born on Wednesday, October 6, 1897, in Virginia. Her parents were John W. Wright and Mary Jane Smith. At the time of her birth, William McKinley was the President of the United States.

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Local Newspaper Headlines on October 6, 1897

“Rest in Hollywood. Remains of Major Lewis Ginter Tenderly Laid Away Yesterday. Funeral Service at the Church. A Great Outpouring of People to do Honor to His Memory.” ~ The Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia

“Lamb’s Convention. It was a Decidedly Short and Sweet Performance, but Harmonious and Enthusiastic. McCaull, of Culpeper; Roller, of Rockingham, and Lyons, of Richmond, the Ticket—The Resolutions, Scenes, and Incidents.” ~ The Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia

“Mr. George Accepts. He Receives Nominations from Four Organizations. Great Meeting at Cooper Union. Marked Enthusiasm in Behalf of the Choice of the United Democracy of New York for Mayor of the Greater Metropolis.” ~ The Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia

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Famous Events on October 6th

1582 – Because of the implementation of the Gregorian calendar, this day is skipped in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

1600 – Jacobo Peri’s Euridice, which is the earliest surviving opera, receives its première performance in Florence, Italy.

1683 – German immigrant families found Germantown in the colony of Pennsylvania, marking the first major immigration of German people to America.

1723 – Benjamin Franklin arrives in Philadelphia at the age of 17.

1854 – In England the Great Fire of Newcastle and Gateshead starts shortly after midnight, leading to 53 deaths and hundreds injured.

1876 – The American Library Association was founded.

1976 – Cubana de Aviacion Flight 455 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after taking off from Bridgetown, Barbados, after two bombs placed on board by terrorists with connections to the CIA exploded. All 73 people on board are killed.

1979 – Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit the White House.

1981 – Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is murdered by Islamic extremists.

1995 – 51 Pegasi is discovered to be the second major star apart from the Sun to have a planet orbiting around it.

2010 – Instagram is founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger.

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Famous People Born on October 6th

1729 – Sarah Crosby, First Female Methodist Preacher

1846 – George Westinghouse, Founder of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company

1866 – Reginald Fessenden, Canadian Engineer and Academic, who invented Radiotelephony

1917 – Fannie Lou Hamer, American Activist and Philanthropist

1922 – Joe Frazier, American Baseball Player and Manager

1935 – Bruno Sammartino, Italian/American Wrestler and Trainer

1941 – Paul Popham, American Soldier and Activist, Co-Founder of Gay Men’s Health Crisis

1955 – Tony Dungy, American Football Player and Coach

1963 – Elisabeth Shue, American Actress

1974 – Jeremy Sisto, American Actor, Producer, and Screenwriter