The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-03-15

Ter was born In Wadsworth, ohio, OF
wen-to-do New England parents, ON
september ., 1889. She was her
husbands Junior by two months. As
"a child she lived In wadsworth. In
Burlington. Ia, In Akron. o., where
her father, Harvey H.. Speiman,
achieved a competence In the dry
goods business. aud later in Glove
land. In the grammar school at
Cleveland she met John Rockefeller
when they were fifteen years old.
Rockefeller was a country boy. She
va the daughter OF n OF Cieye-
lands leading citizens. His home
was n little farm house; hers, n OF
c~leyeland's handsomest residences,
His ASSOCIATED. outside OF school, were
mostly farm hands and country boys;
hers were talented folk Of affairs
drawn to her fathers handsome
home, for her father then was a
member OF the Ohio legislature. q
photographed citizen Interested In
phiianthropies and a man Of many ac-
t~iyities. Notwithstanding other dit
f~erences, the awkward youth aud The
city girl had in common a love OF
study and simple tastes, and they be-
came fast friends.
Laura Spolman's school mates knew
her as a quiet, studious girl whO
would rather read a good book than
so TO the theater; as a deyout church
soer and as a girl who was always
wei; dressed In good taste. avoiding
extremes and seeking a. implicitly. She
was Intensely practical and home
loving. Al high school she caused
some surprise by taking not only the
prescribed course but bookkeeping
and other commercial studies little
pursued by young women IN those
days.
There seems 10 have been little
sentmentality in the friendship be-
tween Miss spclman and young Rock
%efeller. but for ten years each was
the others best friend During the
days o. Rockcfeller's early manhood,
when ne saw his hopes Of a college
education fade away. and soon there
after when he trampCd the streets OF
Cleveland for weeks IN "a seemingly
hopeless search for work. she en-
cournged and cheored him. soon al
ter he had established himself In his
first place-as bookkeoper at $500 a
year-she left Cleveland 10 complete
her education at Worcester. Mass
She returned when she was twenty
years old and taught IN Cleveland 5
public schools. Her first class was
the -" grammar grade in the
Browneii street school, now known as
the East Fourteenth street school.
| And she renewed her friendship with
young Rockefeller.
In iS62 Miss Spelmau. described by
her superiors as a splendid discipiIn-
arian and "a perfect teacher. became
assistant principal OF the school.
, Rockefeller. absorbed IN business.
took tho books Of his firm 90 nrr ui
I an evening and together they Noall
20 over his affairs. Both EFF them
we're interested together in 'hurrh
work, too; she as "a congregational ~.
ne as "a Baptist, and neither ever ore
tending 10 dance or the theatcr.
Young Rockefeller prospered .eyon
his faircst hopes. As soon as hc trii
| that he could ask her Co bcoom" hl
wife he did SO. They were ma rir'
ON September s. 1854, the eve '' hri
twenty-nuh birthday, and started o.
kcep house In a little two-story bri'H
residence on one OF Cleveland s.dt
streets. Upon her marriage, IA Doe.
came IA Baptist and 90 her religion
and her home she devoted her entire
time.
'To be a good wife and mother g.
the highest and hardest privilege o'
Ia woman was one Of the sayings at
credited 90 her hy he little circle o
frlends she knew AZ this time. tn
borders OF her world were her home
Her whole life WAS wrapped up "
her husband and children. SIT
avoided an social functions and jolh
ed no clubs.
When Mr.. Rockcfcller's wealth wa
mentioned IA seven figures they lei
their first home a.. a residence lo
markablc only FOR IT, u~npreteuti"us
ness on Euclid avenue CleNe''nu
mile of millions Here Mrs l'"'"o'
Teller reared her -four chiidreh' d
Ruh died In infancy.
Tho training given the Roekelcll''
children by their mother b. deal"i''
10 have been almost spartan. ~
though the Rockefeller wealth III
creased In leaps and bounds ther'
Nag only one carriage and q h"r-'
cared for bv a man, Who acted "a
both coachmau ana hostler Thes'
we're used mostly sundays on th'
trIp 10 church. Mrs Rockefeller en-
ployed two maids bu' sim insisted "'
doing much of the work herself. Sh'
also supervised every detail OF IN
care and training of her children, par
ucularly seeking TO instill In thei
minds tho lesson Of thrift, u b. re-
lated that on one occasion shc aver
aged up the gas bills FOR % year am
promIsed as spending money TO ne
Oldest daugs ter any sum h mlsh
save zach month by watching thhi o.
Ilurhts were left burning ncodlossl''
A relative told Of her SUFFERING uh
dor a particularly bitter ncwspape
ottark i'm Cleveland against her hn.
,and. At her iusistanco, the suhru
around tho Forest lin estate Wei
doubled. Although Mr.. koeNel'il'
received scores 90, letters threaienlh
his NE. and personal friends ana Tel
, ntives pieaded with him not q" 'H
! nose himself. he insisted on MAXI
his usual sunday trip by automon'