The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-12
OIL KINGS WIFE DEAD
AT TARRYTOWN, N. Y.
Mrs. John d. Rockefeller Passed Away
To-day After Being Ill
Long Time.

to-do New England parents, on Scptem.
Der 0, 1899. She was her husbands junior
by two months As child she lived
in Wadsworth, in Burlington, Ia, in
Akron, o., where her father, Harvey B.
Spclman, achieved competence in the
drygoods business, and later in Cleve-
land. In the grammar school at Cleve-
land she met John d. Rockefeller, when
they were fifteen years old.
Rockefeller was country boy. She
was the daughter of one of Cleveland's 8
leading citizens. His home was little
farmhouse; here, one of Cleyeland's
| handsomest residences. His associates,
outside of school were mostly farm
hands and country boys; hers were tai
ented folk of affairs drawn to her fa
| theirs handsome home, for her father
! then was a member of the Ohio legisla-
! ture, public spirited citizen interested
| in philanthropics and a man of many
activities. Notwithstanding other dit
ferences, the awkward youth and the
city girl had in common love of study
and simple tastes, and they became fast
friends.
Laura Spelman's schoolmates knew her
as quiet, studious girl who would rath-
er read good book than 90 to the thea
tire; as devout churchgoer and as
girl who was always well dressed in good
taste avoiding extremes and seeking
simplicity. She was intensely practical
and home loving. At high school she
caused some surprise by taking not only
the prescribed course but bookkeeping
and other commercial studies little pur
sued by young women in those days.
There seems TO have been little sen
timentality in the friendship between
Miss Spelman and young Rockefeller
but for ten years each was the other s
best friend. During the days of Rock.
feller's early manhood, when he saw his
hopes of a college education fade away,
and soon thereafter when he tramped the
streets of Cleveland for weeks in seeni-
ingly hopeless search for work, she en-
couraged and cheered him. Soon after
he had established himself in his first
place-as bookkeeper at $500 a year
she left Cleveland to complete her edu |
cation at Worcester. Mass. She returned |
when she was 20 years old and taught |
in Cleveland's public schools. Her first
class was the "A" grammar grade in
the Brownell street school, now known |
as the East Fourteenth street school. |
And she renewed her friendship with 1
young Rockefeller
In 1852 Miss Spelmsn, described by
her superiors as a splendid discipline
rian and perfect teacher, became as
sistant principal of the school Rocke
Teller. absorbed in business, took the
books of his firm TO her OF an evening
and together they would 20 over his At
fairs. Both OF them were interested
together in church work, too; she as
Congregationalist he as a Baptist; and
neither ever attended a dance or the
theatre.
They were married on Sept. 3, 1864,
the eve OF her 25th birthday, and started 4
to keep house in a little two-story brick
on one of Cleveland's side
streets. Upon her marriage, she became
4 Baptist and to her religion and her
home she devoted her entire time.
"To be a good wife and mother is the
highest and hardest privilege Of a wom
m was one of the sayings as credit
"a to her by the little circle Of friends
he knew at this tim. The borders Of
ler world we're her home. Her whole
ife was wrapped up in her husband and
children. She avoided all social func-
ions and joined no clubs.
When Mr.. Roekefeller's wealth was
in seven figures they left
heir first home for residence remark
bile only for ITS unprctentiousness on
euclid avenue, Cleyeland's "mle OF mil
ions" Here Mrs Rockefeller reared !
Ter four children; fifth died in infancy.
The training given the Rockefeller
hldren by their mother is declared to !
ave been almost Spartan. Although the |
wealth increased in leaps and !
.ounds there was only one carriage and Z
horse cared for by 2 man, who acted s
: both coachman and hostler. These ]
ere used mostly Sundays on the trip 3
D church. Mrs Rockefeller employed I
wo servants, but still insisted on doing !
iuch Of The work herself. She also su- !
crvised every detail 81 the care and
ra lining 81 her children. particularly !
scking 70 instil in their minds the les /,
ln of thrift II is related that on one
ocasion she averaged up the gas bill !
1r year and promised as spending /,
loney 10 her eldest daughter any sum !
be- might save each month BY watching 4
.at no lights were left burning need i
ssly.
a relative told 81 her suffering under +
particularly bitter newspaper attack iu .
lrtcland against her husband A. Der Il
lsistencc. the guards around the Forest d
.l estate were a0abied Although Nj 4
.orlcafeIicr received scores Of letters 4
.rratcuiug biz Hfe. end prfe0nal friends >
ud rflatire. nleaded with hm not a.
snt.se hirzaif. b. insisted on making >
b. usual SUNDAY trip ~ automobile to :
b. Euc'id avenue Bapiist church. D
when Mrs Bokaffiief hoard 81 BE- j
fterrinatlgn stf insisted On aoeom ?.
aufinr him although poor health had 4
ert iitr eonfned 81 TIE hauue fgr some Ii
me Fl
600 nrytirg haHFens ~ you." sht T. =.
latei - aaAfE uaut L a. happsn :.
me- tu1 III
uf frr Brfn. tl-Fs arf Efue es
81 go u.afher 81 faar tsnritrrs ard !.
rr arn go inaf HsmaH fHfr u Bari-e- 3
lfr b. ieur ~ fnuHrrst Hpr 81
e Erratfar nassia ain Hrrrrirf frn. 4
sa1- Ifarlft A sfr8Hz fiaf fn Fraurr =
IeH n 80 ae Ell Tie aar.f
.nrtfrr tfae died ID irfnnar
TIf surtItsna Fflasr aef ata a'r +.
rnrnaLaa frset Efh wtn
r-fH Haral8 FnuAaf M@ armf.k Hna =
Isl Oh Eattfaat
ssTEAR RECORD BRUEEE