A cousin found a newspaper article in a book about Morgan County. The article was written about David's annual Birthday party. It was in the Alabama Enquirer and was printed July 24, 1890, after David's birthday and after his death.
"AN OCTOGENARIAN WHO LIVES IN CULLMAN COUNTY, ALA. AND HAS OVER THREE HUNDRED LIVING ANCESTORS-David Speegle, of Cullman County, has just celebrated his eighty-fourth birthday by a big basket picnic in his neighborhood, which was attended by fully a thousand of his friends and neighbors. Mr. Speegle was born in Lincoln County., NC, July 15, 1806, and was one of the very first settlers of that portion of Alabama, now known as Cullman County. For over sixty years, he has lived at, or very near his present homestead. He is the father of twenty six children, and his entire progeny extending down an the fifth generation, now numbers over 300 living members. The old gentleman, by use of his stick, is able to move around very well, and greatly enjoys the big birthday dinner that Brushy Creek settlement gives every 15th of July in his honor. All who know him hope and pray he may yet live to celebrate many birthdays with his family and neighbors, and be hale and hearty when he is one hundred years old."
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