The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-12
MRS. JOHN q. is DEAD

HRS. JOHN q. IS DEAD
tconsinred from Page one.I
Rock efelIer and his son engaged a
special train at once and are due here
some time tomorrow.
Mrs E. Parmalee Prentice, Mrs.
Rocxefelier's daughter, was the only
immediate relative present when she
died.
Sketch of Her Life.
Laura CeIestia Spelman Rockefei-
Ter was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, of
weII-tO-do New England parents, on
September 9. 1882. She was her hus-
bands junior by two months.
Rockefeller was a country boy. She
was the daughter of one of CIeve-
lands leading citizens. His home was
a little farm house: hers. one of
CleVeland's handsomeSt residences.
His associates, outside of school, were
mostly farm hands and country boys;
her We're talented folk of affairs
drawn TO her fathers handsome home,
for her father then was a member
of the Ohio legislature. a public
spirited citizen interested in philan-
thropies and g man of many activities.
NotWit hstanding other differences,
the awkward youth and the city girl
had in common love of study and
simple tastes, and they became fast
friends.
There seems to have been little sem
timentality in the friendship between
Miss Spelman and young Rockefeller.
but for ten years each was the others
best friend. During the days OF
Rock efeIIer's early manhood, when he
saw his hopes of college education
fade away. and soon thereafter when
he traTnped the streets of Cleveland
for weeks in a seemingly hopeless
search for work she encouraged and
cheered him. Soon after he had es-
~ L.
as bookkeeper at $500 a year-she
left Cleveland to complete her educa-
ton at Worcester. Mass. She re-
turned when she was twenty years old
and taught in Cleveland's public
schools And she renewed her friend
snip with young Rockefeller.
Was a Good Teacher.
In 1862 Miss Spelman. described by
her superiOrs as a splendid disciple
marian and a perfect teacher, became
assistant principal of the school.
Rockefeller. absorbed in business.
an evening and together they would
go over his affairs. Both of them
Were interested together in church
work, too; she as a Congregationalist,
he as a Baptist; and neither ever at
tended dance or the theater.
Young Rockefeller prospered be-
yond his fairest hopes. AS soon he
felt that he could ask her to become
his wife he did so. They were married
Sept. 3. 1864. the eve of her twenty
ffsh birthday. and started to keep
house in a little twO-story brick resi-
Gence Cn one of Cleveland's side
streets. Upon her marriage, she be-
ci,ne a baptist and to her religion and
her home she devoted her entire time.
Her whole lire was wrapped up in
hcr husband and children. She
Gvoide1 s1l social functions and Joined
no clubs.
mentioned in seven figures they left
their first home for a residence re-
markable only for its unpFetentious-
ness on Euclid avenue, Cleveland's
mile of millions" Here Mrs Rookie
Teller reared her four children;
fifth died in infancy.
The training given the Rockefeller
children by their mother is declared
though the Rockefeller wealth in
creased in leaps and bounds there was
only one carriage and horse cared
for by a man, who acted as both
coachman and hostler. These We're
used mostly Sundays on the trip to
church. Mrs. Rockefeller employed
two maids. but still insisted on doing
much of the work herself. She also
supervi5cd every detail OF the care and
training of her children. particularly
seeking to instill in their minds the
lesson of thrift. 1t is related that on
one occasion she averaged up the gas
spending money to her eldest daugh-
ter any sum she might save each
month by watching that no lights
were left burning needlessly.
Guards Were Doubled.
\ relative told of her suffering un-
der a particularly bitter newspaper at
tack in Cleveland against her hus-
band. At her insistence, the guards
around the Forest Hill estate were
doubled Although Mr.. Rockefeller
received scores of letters threatening
his life. and personal friends and rela-
tives pleaded with him not to expose
himself. he insisted on making his
usual Sunday trip by automobile to
the Euclid Avenue Baptist church.
When Mrs. Rockefeller heard of his
determination she insisted on accom-
panying him. although poor health
had kept her confined to the house for
some time.
IF anything happens to YOU" she
is quoted as saying, Il want it to hap
pen to me too.
OF her children. three are living.
She was the mother of four daughters
and one son, the last named, John D.
Rockefeller. jr., being the youngest
Her eldest daughter, Bessie. who mar
ried Prof. Charles A. Strong, died in
France in 1906 at the age of 40. The
second daughter, Alice, died in in
fancy.
The surviving children are Alta,
wife of z. Parmalee Prentice: Edit