From November 20, 1846 to March 1, 1847 ... their way to the Donner party’s mountain encampment. By March, Breen and his family were safely at Sutter’s Fort in California.

As I was taught in California history class, the wagon train left Illinois in April 1846, lost precious time ... by earlier pioneers and used by the Breen family that winter.

Eighty-seven men, women and children entered the Sierra Nevada Mountains in October 1846. Known as the Donner ... lager to California. The Reed family had an inauspicious start to their lives ...

From November 20, 1846 to March 1, 1847 ... their way to the Donner party’s mountain encampment. By March, Breen and his family were safely at Sutter’s Fort in California.