1812 – Hugh McCary established McCary’s Landing on a horseshoe bend of the Ohio River. In 1814, the name was changed to Evansville to honor Colonel Bob Evans, who had served under William Henry Harrison in the War of 1812.
1863 – Secretary of War Edwin Stanton awarded the first Medals of Honor to members of the Civil War “Andrew’s Raiders.” Among them was Elihu Mason, born in Wayne County.
1921 – Vivian Carter was born in Mississippi. Her parents soon moved to Gary, where she graduated from Roosevelt High School. She became a popular radio disc jockey and, with her husband James Bracken, founded Vee-Jay Records, the first successful record company owned by African-Americans.
1925 – Escape Artist Harry Houdini, appearing at B. F. Keith’s Theater in Indianapolis, accepted a challenge from carpenters at L.S. Ayres Department Store. They dared him to escape from a wood shipping case they had constructed. He did so on stage to much acclaim.
1940 – Indiana University won its first NCAA men’s basketball championship. Branch McCracken coached the Hoosiers to a 60-42 victory over Kansas. IU’s Marvin Huffman was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
1948 – A tornado swept through West Central Indiana, destroying most of the town of Coatesville. Twenty people were killed.