1833 – Benjamin Harrison was born on Aug. 20 in North Bend, Ohio. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and studied law. As a young attorney, he moved to Indianapolis. He fought in the Civil War, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. In 1875, he moved into a new brick home on North Delaware Street. He served one term as a United States Senator and, in 1888, was elected President of the United States.
1909 – The first automobile race was held at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The five-mile dash became a disaster as the crushed-rock track disintegrated. Two drivers, two mechanics and two spectators were killed. The race was won by Louis Schwitzer with an average speed of 57.43 mph.
1920 – Charles B. Hall was born in Brazil, Ind. After graduation from Brazil High School, he entered college as a pre-med student. However, World War II intervened and he joined the Air Corps. He became a pilot in the famed Tuskegee Airmen squadron. He was one of the first African-American pilots to be assigned to combat duty.
1924 – A Baltimore and Ohio passenger train, eastbound from St. Louis to Cincinnati, derailed on a siding near Mitchell. The engineer was killed and a fireman was severely injured. The Philadelphia Nationals Baseball Team was on the train, but no players were hurt.
1948 – Joe Louis, former heavyweight boxing champion of the world, was in Indianapolis to compete in the United Golf Association Tournament at Coffin Municipal Course. Louis, formidable on the links as well as in the ring, also took time to visit patients at Veterans Hospital.
1988 – Vice President George H. W. Bush and Indiana Senator Dan Quayle kicked off their Presidential campaign in Quayle’s hometown of Huntington. In November, they won the election, defeating Democratic Party candidates Michael Dukakis and Geraldine Ferraro.