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April 10, 1827 – Lew Wallace was born in Brookville. The son of Indiana Governor David Wallace, he became an attorney, Civil War General, Governor of the New Mexico Territory, and best-selling author of Ben Hur.
April 14, 1865 – On the evening of April 14, Indiana Congressman Schuyler Colfax walked Abraham Lincoln to the door of the White House as the President and Mrs. Lincoln left to attend a play at Ford’s Theater.
April 9, 1965 – Sherman Minton died in New Albany. Born in Floyd County, he was a United States Senator before his appointment in 1941 to the U.S. Court of Appeals. In 1948, President Harry Truman nominated him for the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served until his retirement seven years later. In 1962, Indiana governor Matthew Welsh announced the arch bridge spanning the Ohio River, carrying Interstate 64 and U.S. 150 over the river between Kentucky and Indiana would be named the Sherman Minton Bridge.
April 11, 1965 – Palm Sunday tornadoes struck several states in the Midwest. In Indiana, at least 20 counties were hit. The death toll in the state was 137, with over 1,700 injured.
April 11, 2007 – Kurt Vonnegut died at his home in New York. Born and raised in Indianapolis, he attended Shortridge High School. His experiences in World War II helped launch a career that included novels, short stories, plays and works of non-fiction. His best-selling books include Slaughterhouse-Five, Breakfast of Champions, and Slapstick.