1. The first African-American to win an Olympic gold medal was born on February 22nd, 1904 in Alton, Illinois. His name was John Woodruff and he won the 800 meter race at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

2. On February 22nd, 1974, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago, alleging racial discrimination in employment practices. This lawsuit would eventually lead to a consent decree and changes in the city's hiring practices.

3. Abraham Lincoln, who spent much of his adult life in Illinois, was born on February 12th, 1809. His birthday is celebrated as a state holiday on the nearest Monday to February 12th, which sometimes falls on February 22nd.

4. On February 22nd, 1861, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the President of the Confederate States of America. This marked the beginning of the Civil War and Illinois played a significant role in the Union's victory.

5. The famous Chicago gangster Al Capone was born on January 17th, 1899, but he spent much of his criminal career in Chicago, Illinois. On February 22nd, 1933, he was arrested in Miami for tax evasion, which eventually led to his conviction and imprisonment.