1. In 1959, The Chicago White Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-1 on September 9. The game was significant because it marked the first time a major league team played a game under lights in September.

2. The famous author, Carl Sandburg, was born on September 9, 1878, in Galesburg, Illinois. Sandburg won three Pulitzer Prizes during his lifetime and is known for his poetry, biographies, and his work as a journalist.

3. In 1778, the Battle of Fort St. Joseph took place on September 9, in what is now southwestern Michigan. The battle was part of the American Revolutionary War and was fought between U.S. forces and the British.

4. On September 9, 1954, the first McDonald's franchise opened in Des Plaines, Illinois. The fast-food chain was started by Ray Kroc and has since grown into a multi-billion dollar corporation.

5. In 2014, the Caterpillar Visitors Center opened in Peoria, Illinois, on September 9. The center features exhibits that showcase the history and technology behind Caterpillar Inc., a Fortune 100 company that is headquartered in Peoria.