On October 10, 1750, Richard Smith had 44 acres of land he purchased from Notley Thomas surveyed. His plat showed he named it after himself - Smithfield. Middletown was laid out on this same land 16 years later by Michael Jesserong. On October 10, 1858, John Oliver Fisher, 16, was stabbed to death by Samuel Francis, in front of the Bethel AME Church on East Third Street. Francis was later convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 17 years and five months in the Maryland Penitentiary. On October 10, 1860, The Examiner reported that William H. Daley, the local census marshall, had counted 8,054 residents of Frederick City: 2,980 white males; 3,377 white females; 558 free Negro males; 696 free Negro females; and 443 slaves of both sexes. On October 10, 1866, a tornado caused destruction at the west end of Patrick Street in Frederick. Damages were estimated at between $4,000 and $5,000, huge in that day. On October 10, 1972, John R. Cheatham sold Key Chevrolet to Merle L. Wise and Klare S. Sunderland. The franchise was later sold to the Fitzgerald group of dealerships. If anyone can add information to these History Moments, or would like to suggest an item for another calendar day, please contact me privately. John W. Ashbury (wasps65@earthlink.net)