Day in history for April 21, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

The Rev. A.E. Phelps, presiding elder of the Methodist church for the Rock Island district, died at Princeton, Ill., of lung fever.

1878 -- 125 years ago

Sam Porter and B. Rodman chose sides at a meeting of the Rock Island Gun Club and a match was staged. The terms were 15 glass balls each. Mr. Thomas of Coal Valley was the referee, and Dr. Carter of Rock Island was the scorer. By three balls, victory went to Captain Rodman's team. The losers paid for a game supper at the Rock Island House.

1903 -- 100 years ago

Oliver Graham, for 25 years engineer at the Rock Island Plow Works, died suddenly yesterday. During the Civil War, he was third assistant engineer aboard the ``East Post'' which was sunk on the way to the seige of Vicksburg.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Samuel S. Davis, president of the Rock Island Plow Co., and Mrs. Davis were members of a party of Americans imperiled in a religious riot staged by Mohammedan students at Cairo, Egypt.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Bishop William E. Cousins of Peoria officiated at the blessing and dedication of the new $250,000 Durkin Memorial gymnasium-auditorium addition to St. Joseph Catholic School, Rock Island.

1978 -- 25 years ago

Shelless Simmons wasn't much help when her father, Samuel, of East Moline, locked his keys in the car. The one-year-old had the cars keys, but no amount of coaxing could get her to pull up the door lock.

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