Died On This Date - January 31

Bosco, John
b. August 16, 1815 d. January 31, 1888
Roman Catholic Saint. He was an Italian priest, ordained in 1841, who founded the Salesian Society, and worked with disadvantaged youth. He was beatified June 2, 1929 and canonized on Easter Sunday (April 1) 1934. His Feast Day is January 31st.

Milne, A.A. (Alan Alexander)
b. January 18, 1882 d. January 31, 1956
British Author and Playwright. He is best remembered for his "Winnie the Pooh" series of books. Born Alan Alexander Milne in Scotland, he was the third of three sons born to John Vine and Sarah Maria Milne, both schoolteachers. Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to London, and after initial schooling at Henley House School, he won a scholarship to Westminster School in 1893.

Goldwyn, Samuel
b. August 17, 1879 d. January 31, 1974
Legendary Hollywood producer, mogul.

Datzig, Elfriede
b. July 26, 1922 d. January 31, 1946
She was called the "Little Sparrow" of Vienna. She was an Austrian actress and a member of the German-Austrian underground against the Nazis in WWII.

Herring, Rufus Geddie
b. June 11, 1921 d. January 31, 1996World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Roseboro, Sampson County, North Carolina, he graduated from Roseboro High School and was in his senior year at Davidson College when war was declared. He finished out his studies, earning a BS degree in Economics, and immediately enlisted in the US Naval Reserve and was commissioned as an ensign. He was a Lt(j.g.) serving as Commander of LCI (G) [Landing Craft Infantry, Gunboat] 449 when he performed the deeds for which he was awarded.

Kelley, Jonah Edward High
b. April 13, 1923 d. January 31, 1945
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was in the United States Army and served as a Staff Sergeant in Company E, 311th Infantry, 78th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on January 30 and 31, 1945 at Kesternich, Germany. He was killed in action. His citation reads in part "At dawn the next day, the squad resumed the attack, advancing to a point where heavy automatic and small-arms fire stalled them.

Eaton, Timothy
d. January 31, 1907
He founded the T. Eaton Company in 1869 which, by 1907, had become the most important and influential department store in the Dominion of Canada.

Charles IV 'Charles le Bel'
b. 1294 d. January 31, 1328
French Monarch. King of France from 1322 to 1328.

Tolan, Thomas Edward 'Eddie'
b. September 29, 1908 d. January 31, 1967Olympic Athlete. A native of Denver, Colorado, he was a talented football player, winning several Michigan state championships while still in high school. He later attended the University of Michigan, where he took up running, and eventually became a noted track and field athlete. Known as 'Eddie' and 'The Midnight Express,' he set a World Record of 95 in the 100 yard dash, gaining him instant celebrity in the United States while still attending the University of Michigan.

Gabreski, Col. Francis S. 'Gabby'
b. January 28, 1919 d. January 31, 2002
Known for many years as "America's Greastest Living Ace." He recorded 37 "kills" in both WWII and Korea. Shot down over Europe, he spent eight months in a German POW camp. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and an airport in Westhampton Beach bears his name.

Ross Clarke, Betty
b. April 19, 1896 d. January 31, 1947Actress. Clarke appeared in 33 movies from the 1920s to the 1940s. Among her most notable appearences were "Three Married Men" (1936) as 'Annie' and "A Bride for Henry" (1937) as 'Mrs. Curtis'.

Johnson, Henry
b. June 11, 1850 d. January 31, 1904
Indian Wars Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. While serving as a Sergeant in Company D, 9th U.S. Cavalry at Milk River, Colorado, he earned his Medal during the days of October 2-5, 1879. His citation reads: Voluntarily left fortified shelter and under heavy fire at close range made the rounds of the pits to instruct the guards, fought his way to the creek and back to bring water to the wounded. He was one of only eighteen black soldiers to win the Medal during the Indian Wars.

Krzyzanowski, Wladimir
b. July 8, 1824 d. January 31, 1887
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Rosnowo, Poland, a cousin to Frederick Chopin. He took part in the 1848 Polish uprising against Prussia, after which he need to flee Poland for fear of being arrested. He made his way to NYC, then to Virginia where he worked as a surveyor. He enlisted 2 days after Lincoln called for volunteers. On July 2, 1863, he led a counterattack at Gettysburg to stabilize the Union line. After the Civil War, he served as governor of several Southern states.

Payne, Edna
b. December 5, 1891 d. January 31, 1953
Actress. Petite, blue-eyed and brown-haired, Edna was born “in the trunk,” the daughter of stage actors. She began her career as a child in vaudeville, making her movie debut in 1911, Edna played the lead in one and two reel dramas, later playing the lead in two and three reel westerns. She was married to actor Jack Rollens, whom she divorced in 1925. Payne appeared in 53 movies.

Weaver, George D. 'Buck'
b. November 18, 1890 d. January 31, 1956
Major League Baseball Player. He began his major league career on April 11, 1912, as a shortstop for the Chicago White Sox. An excellent infielder, he was switched to third base and was known as the only third baseman in the league that Ty Cobb would not bunt against. During the 1919 World Series known as the Black Sox Scandal, Weaver played error-less ball in the Series and batted .324.

Twitchell, Archie
b. November 23, 1906 d. January 31, 1957
Actor. Appeared in motion pictures from the 1930s through the 1950s. Acted primarily in movies of the Western genre. Archie was the co-pilot of the DC-7B test flight that collided with another plane over Pacoima Junior High on 1-31-57. Eight people died including three 13 year old boys on the playground. This was musician Ritchie Valens' school (he was in 9th grade at the time) and one of his friends was killed.