Day in history for July 31, 2006

1856 -- 150 years ago

The bulk of those seeking homes in the far west are men of strong and powerful bodies, with a determination to break the soil and till the wild land, thus improving and enhancing the value of their property and that of their neighbors.

1881 -- 125 years ago

Eva Simons, six-year-old daughter of John Simons of Illinois City, was bitten by a rattlesnake and died a few hours later.

1906 -- 100 years ago

The Rev. O.W. Lawrence and family left last evening for Colorado where they will camp in the mountains.

1931 -- 75 years ago

The work of installing the Dr. C.E. Lindberg memorial pipe organ in the Augustana Seminary Chapel is progressing rapidly and plans are being made for the dedication in October.

1956 -- 50 years ago

The new Soviet magazine, USSR Information Bulletin, has made its bow on American newsstands, but from all indications, the Quad-City area is ''out of bounds.'' None of the public libraries in the area expects to receive a copy. News dealers said they have placed no orders.

1981 -- 25 years ago

Buoyed by a fifth-place finish, their highest ever, in the 30-corps Drum Corps Midwest Championships Saturday night in DeKalb, the Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is preparing for the ''Knights Radiothon'' Saturday on WGEN radio in Geneseo.

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