This is a letter written to my Grandmother in 1930 by Emanuel A. Speegle He was a toddler when he came to Calif. in 1849 by wagon train with his parents, fathers brothers, and Grandparents. His Grandparents died while on the journey. Los Angeles July 4, 1930 My Dear Mrs. Maggie Belle Speegle, Connell I was much surprised to receive a letter from a distant relative. My father David R. Speegle, James L. Speegle, Andrew Jackson, and Madison Monroe Speegle were all brothers of your grandfather the late William Russell Speegle, they have all passed away. We all came to California in a covered wagon train over the Santa Fee Route in 1849. We crossed the Colorado River into California at old Fort Yuma on Sept 3, 1849. Thence to San Diego, following the Camino Real to San Francisco. Sold our outfit and went on boat up the bay, Sacramento River, and the Feather River. Landed at Captain Sutter's Hock Farm just below where Yuba City is now located. Father died in 1853. About that time your Grandfather came to Monterey County and took up a piece of land next to the foot hill about half way between the Old Adobe and the Lagoon. I stopped with him about a month or more in the summer of 1864 when I enlisted Co. A. Inf. Cal. Volunteers. All the Speegle boys came to Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties a few years after your grandfather settled in Monterey County. Your Grandfather traded his farm next to the hills for the Old Adobe. I came back after he moved into the Adobe and built the house he lived in prior to his moving north. Uncle Monroe's widow and several children live in Berkley, Uncle Jackson's wife passed away and all his children are gone but one Phoebe Speegle, now married to Mr. Brooks, proprietor of the Paso Robles Mineral Water Springs, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County. I think there is some Speegles grandchildren of Uncle Monroes living in Watsonville and some in San Jose. Uncle James did not have any children. I had one son who was a traveling salesman back East for the Quaker Oats Co. He drowned in Dayton, Ohio at the time of the flood in Dayton, Ohio several years ago.Was your mother Uncle Willaiams daughter or John Speegle's his son who married the Miss Stowe. P. S. I do not wear whiskers now my wife says I am now good enough looking to hug and kiss. Yours Truly Emanuel Abraham Speegle 2601 North Workman St. Los Angeles, Calif. " A 49er, son of a 49er and grandson of 49er A relic of "The days of old, The days of Gold, The days of 49."