Doxologist ContentHoratio Spafford
Horatio Spafford was born October 20, 1828 and died October 16, 1888. Spafford was a successful lawyer and real estate investor but he is most known for having penned the well-known hymn “It is Well With My Soul”. Although the famous hymn has no doubt edified a countless number of Christians for well over 100 years, his life was marked by major tragedy.
In 1871 the Spafford’s were grieving over the death of a son when the Great Chicago Fire of that same year obliterated the city and burned up nearly everything he owned including most all his real estate investment holdings.
Two years later, in 1873, the Spafford family had planned a trip overseas for a much needed vacation after the events of 1871. While there, Spafford planned to visit his good friend-and famous preacher-DL Moody during a preaching stint in England. But before their scheduled departure, Spafford was delayed from leaving due to business. He sent his wife and four kids ahead of him with plans to meet them later. While in route their boat, the SS Ville Du Havre, collided with an iron sailing vessel killing over two hundred people including Spafford’s entire family except his wife.
A few years after the tragedy, the Spaffords had two more children: a son, Horatio, born in 1876, and Bertha, born in 1778. Sadly, young Horatio contracted scarlet fever and died at the age of four.
Stories differ as to when Spafford’s famous hymn was written. Some believe it was when he was en route to rejoin his grieving wife in England after the boating accident. When the ship’s captain told him that they were passing over the scene of the accident it’s said that he was overcome with sorrow and was inspired to write: “When sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.”
Others believe Spafford wrote this hymn about two years later when DL Moody and his music evangelist Ira Sanky were staying at the Spafford home. Whatever the case, Spafford’s inspired hymn has comforted countless Christians in time of loss all of whom can say confidently, along with the Apostle Paul, “for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Phillippians 4:11 ESV).
I have been researching this for a few years now, mostly becuase of the history recorded in your blog. Recently, I’ve been researching again to find the answer to a question and/or response I recieved while sharing this story in a teaching session. The question was, “didn’t Horatio Spafford commit suicide?” Is there any history on how he died? You have the date listed as October 18, 1888, but do we know the cause of death? This doesn’t change my opinion of the illustrations, but I would like to know.
To answer your question about Horatio’s death, according to an entry at cyberhymnal.org he died of malaria. Wikipedia also states he died of malaria in October 1988.
Another link tells the entire story a little bit differently at http://chi.gospelcom.net/GLIMPSEF/Glimpses2/glimpses210.shtml.
Thanks for the input, Brenda. When I do research on these, I usually stick with the details that are confirmed by multiple sources. Out of all the info I read, I never read anything about Spafford committing suicide.
Good information. I have visited the burial site of H. Spafford in Jerusalem and wonder if there is not an obituary that can be found in a Jerusalem newspaper regarding the cause of death?
I wonder if God has allowed Mr. Spafford to see how many lifes he has pulled from personal wreckage with his well penned memorial. Doesn’t this just show us that God can inspire in us, things that can live on to bless and encourage for all time? I for one am so grateful that instead of drowning in his own grief, he left this encouragement for us.
Did Spafford have a mental illness sometime during the 1880s which caused him to believe that he was the Messiah?
Brenda:
It was malaria that took Horatio Spafford. The stories that circulated that attempted to cast the Colony as religious misfits is so wrong. Don’t talk until you have not confirmed your sources, and know whereof you speak.