Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-13

lived in Wadsworth. in Burlington.
Ia. in Akron, O.. where her father,
Harvey B. Spelman achieved a com
petence in the dry goods business, and
later in Cleveland. In the grammar
| school at Cleveland she met John
Rockefeller when they were fifteen
! years OLD
Rockefeller was country boy. She
was the daughter Of one Of Cleveland 5
! leading citizens. His home vas a lit
| tie Farm house; hers. one Of Cleve
| lands handsomest residences. His as
| soclales outside OF school, were most
~ farm hands and country boys; hers
we're talented folk Of affairs drawn 10
her fathers handsome home. for her
father then was q member of the Ohio
Legislature. d publics spirited citizen
interested in phiianlhroples and d man
of many activities. Notwit hstanding
I other differences, the awkward youth
and the city girl had in common :
love of study and simple tastes. and
they became fast friends.
Laura Spelmans school mates knew
her as quiet, studious girl who would
rather read a@good book than go -
the theatre as a devout churchgoer
and as a girl who was always We'll
dressed in good taste, avoiding eX-
tremes and seeking simplicity. she was
intensely pra ctical and homelovine. A:
! high school she caused some surprise
by taking not only tie prescribed
course but bookkeeping and othe-
commercial studies little pursued by
yr0,lnsr yyor7oar those 1avS
There seems 10 have been little SEN
timentality in the friendship between
Miss Spelman and young Rockefeller,
but ten years each Vas the others
best friend During the days OF Rock
efeiler's early manhood. when lie 50 ~,
his hopes Of college education fad
away. and soon thereafter when he
| tramped the streets Of Cleveland 10:
weeks in a seemingly hopeless search
for work. she enccur2 Ced and cheerca
him. Soon after ne had esta blIshe4
himself III his first place-as book
Keeper at $500 d year-She left CleVe
! land to complete her education at
Worcester Mass. She returned when
she was twenty years old and t'U@h.
IL rierclanG's public schools. Her frs,
+
he I.rowaen stree. school. now known
as the E4>sl Fourteenth slreci school
4 Nd she rene u ed her Friendships with
young Rockefeller.
In 1852 Miss Spelman. described ~
her superiors as a splendid discipline
tina and a perfect teacher, became as
sistant principal OF the school. Rock
I efeIler absorbed in business, took thu
! books of his firm to her of an ever
ing and together they would go over
his affairs Both Of them were inter
ested together in church work. to-:
she as d CongreGationalist, he a.
BAPTIST: and neither ever attended
dance or the theatre.
Young Rockefeller prospcrtd beyond
his fairest hopes. As soon as he fet-
that he could ask her 10 become his
September 6. 1864. the eve Of he
twenty fifth birthday, and started 70
keep house in little twos story brick
residence on one Of Cleyeland's side
streets Jpon her marriage. sh" he
came q Ba ptist and to Ter religion and
her home she devoted her entire time,
TO be q good wife and mother -
the highest and hardest privilege Of
z woman" was one Of the sayings ac-
credited to her by the little circle of
friends she knew at this time. The
borders of her world were her home.
Her whole life was wrapped up in her
husband and children. She avoided al,
social functions and joined no clubs.