Day in history for October 26, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

George W. Gates, 47, Democratic nominee for sheriff of Rock Island County, was a sheriff for 13 years in Vermont. He came to Port Byron six years ago and is one of the owners of a flour mill and lumber mill. (Gates became the grandfather of Mrs. Harry S. Truman)

1879 -- 125 years ago

It will be remembered that a gang of tramps stopped a train at Monmouth using revolvers. They now have been sentenced to prison, their terms varying from one to six years.

1904 -- 100 years ago

John Pence, Sr., who settled in Buffalo Prairie Township in 1850, died at 79. He had been ruling elder of the Buffalo Prairie Church ever since it was organized.

1929 -- 75 years ago

Rock Island stock brokers believe the sensational decline of Wall Street prices is the effect of an overbought condition. Powerful banking houses are trying to stop the decline in quotations by placing huge buying orders.

1954 -- 50 years ago

Moline aldermen began a series of meetings to discuss the demands they will make of the Davenport bridge commission in return for allowing it to locate the exit to the proposed additional span to the Moline-Bettendorf suspension bridge at 3rd Avenue and 19th Street.

1979 -- 25 years ago

Downtown Moline's J.C. Penney store will close tonight to make room for a new store opening later this week at the Southpark Mall.

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