MULTI-MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 47, 18 June 1915, Page 6

MULTI-MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE.

MRS. J. I), ROCKEFELLER

SIMPLE, FORCEFUL CHARACTER

"Only by the 6ingle, inevitable act of dying," remarks one writer, "has one of the most remarkable women of hei generation done anything to make her in the least conspicuous." In spite of the fact that her husband was one ot

the world's most familiar figures, the woman who for fifty years was Mrs.

Rockefeller was almost unknown. Her greatness, to which John 1). Rockefeller often attributed the major share of his successes, was not of the sort to attract attention. It functioned best through the mediums of her husband and her children. She sought determinedly for they privacy and quiet content of a small home, despite the huge fortune that kept rolling up about them. This veiling of self, however, cannot now evade the conclusion, on two ground*, that in her way, Mrs. Rockefeller was

as extraordinary a character as many

women who have left lustrous feminine names. Her inherit;d ir.clination to benevolence, her quiet interest in humanity, her sense of religion and responm bility, her tact as ho.- t.'»s if even but to a few, her domestic devotion, are clearly evinced in the f.'w extant bits of revelation.

Of her capabilities there is also no doubt. The little evidence available is that 6he exercised a powerful counselling power with her husband. The first Rockefeller donation to education was of her inspiring, in the coloured seminary at Atlanta. Unfortunately, also, there is little question but that Mrs. Rockefeller shared in spirit some of the inflictions of the long per,od of public criticism and even calumniation.

Prior to her marriage to the oil magnate her name was Laura Celestia Spelman, and she was born at Wads worth, Ohio, on September 0, 1839, within two months of her future husband's birthday. Her father, Harvey B. Spelman, was a well-to-do merchant. As a child Miss Spelman lived at Burlington, lowa, and at*Akron, Ohio, where her father made a small fortune in the dry-goods business. She moved with her family to Cleveland when commercial pursuits were no longer engrossing Mr. Spelman. The family built one of the largest homes in the city, and Mr. Spelman became a member of the legislature. In the Central High School Miss Spelman met Mr. Rockefeller when both were fifteen years old. The courtship did not begin at once, as outside of school hours the friends of young Rockefeller were mostly country boys j and farm hands.

Laura Spelnian's schoolmates knew her as a quiet, studious girl. She dressed in a manner to indicate a fondness for plain clothes of simple design. Slk> went to church regularly, and became one of tho most devout members of the Plymouth Congregational Church. Following school-days, Miss Spelman and young Rockefeller were separated for several years, for whi'e Miss Spelman was sent to a finishing school at Worcester, Mass., the young man, jobless, was searching Cleveland up and down for employment of some kind or other. During this time Miss Spelman j encouraged him with kindly letters' which still were free from the tone of, romance that later drew them together. Mr. Rockefeller's first position was at j £IOO a year as a bookkeeper, a position | he accepted after seeing hopes of a col-: lege education fade away from him. Miss Spelman, on returning from Worestcer, became a school-teacher. Mr. Rockefeller occasionally called to see her at the school and accompanied her to her home. She was promoted to j assistant principal at the schcool. Mr.! Rockefeller brought to her home the. books on which he worked as bookkeep- | or, and together they would go over: them on the occasion of evening visits, j At no time during the courtship did j they ever attend a theatre or a dance. In business affairs Mr. Rockefeller | quickly gained recognition. He prospered beyond his first expectations, and as «oon a.s he frit that he coud do so, he asked Miss Spelman to become his | wife. I'pon the occasion of the mar- j Mage on September 8, 18G4, Miss Spel-1 man formally abandoned the Congrega- j tional Church in order that she might 1 belong to tin same Church as her hus-j band. She entered the Baptist Church! and remained a member until the time of her death. _ j The first home of the newly married! couple was hardly prophetic of Pocantico Hills, the huge estate where Mrs. i Rockefeller's life came to an end on j Morcli VJ. It was, in fact, a modest brick house on a side-street where they , continued to live until Mr. Rockefeller's wealth rolled up until it was mentioned : in seven figures. The couple then moved into the mansion in Euclid Avenue. But it was characteristic of Mrs. Rockefeller that she still retained m her new, home her fondness for s:inp ! ■ living | It was in Euclid Avenue home that Mrs. Rockefeller reared her four child- J ren. A fifth died in infancy. She refused to join any clubs, and entertain-j ed very few people except her church ' associates. Although the Rockefellei j wea'th increased rapidly, the fani'l; i-outiiiued for a long time to keep only j one hnrse. In the house there were maid servants, and one man, who actod ; both as coachman and hostler. Mr*. I Rockefeller insisted on doing much_ of; the housework herself, and in teaming her children she laid stress upon the need for thrift and frugality. "Whatever is good about me, w 1 ; t ever succe»-< I have made. I owe it to her,'' i\ the tribute Mr. Rockefeller is said to have paid his wife, many tin;"-"

hiring tb.-ir lil'tv year- of married ''f