“It Is Well with My Soul”

Question

Hi Wikitreers,

As this Christmas season is now approaching let’s not forget the sorrows of so many who have come before us and how they overcame these tragedies in life. I believe we have one such person in Horatio Gates Spafford!

The Library of Congress page has a wonderful resource

“ In 1871, Horatio Spafford, a prosperous lawyer and devout Presbyterian church elder and his wife, Anna, were living comfortably with their four young daughters in Chicago. In that year the great fire broke out and devastated the entire city. Two years later the family decided to vacation with friends in Europe. At the last moment Horatio was detained by business, and Anna and the girls went on ahead, sailing on the ocean liner S.S. Ville de Havre. On November 21, 1873, the liner was rammed amid ship by a British vessel and sank within minutes. Anna was picked up unconscious on a floating spar, but the four children had drowned.”

Per Wikipedia “ "It Is Well With My Soul", also known as "When Peace, Like A River", is a hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. 

Thank you 

Note: see YouTube Titled “It is Well With My Soul  (Hugh Bonneville Christmas Concert Narration) The Tabernacle Choir” 

Comments

Thanks.

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Your welcome 

Answer 1

Thank you for sharing this.  It was well worth watching the YouTube!

Comments

The YouTube clip really brings it to life. The library of Congress also has “Anna's Telegram to Horatio” the image is there on their resource page.

“Anna was picked up unconscious by the crew of the Lochearn, which itself was in danger of sinking. Fortunately, the Trimountain, a cargo sailing vessel, arrived to save the survivors. Nine days after the shipwreck Anna landed in Cardiff, Wales, and cabled Horatio, “Saved alone. What shall I do…”

The Library of Congress also appears to have the original copy of her husbands penned paper titled “It is Well With My Soul”  the same paper he wrote on when he passed over the watery graves of his dear children

Edit: Anna Tobine (Larsen) Spafford (1842 - 1923) the wife of Horatio is still not connected to her Norwegian parents still needs research

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Found the father's birth and their marriage and posted both.....Guri has not yet jumped off a page but I will keep looking as I have time.  Wonderful story of my favorite hymn.  god jul og godt nytt år.  ;-D

Link: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Larsen-10849

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Thank you for getting her better connected 

Answer 2

That has always been one of my favorite hymns. Knowing the story will only make it more meaningful.

Thank you and have a Blessed Christmas.

Comments

Thank you Anne may you also have a Blessed Christmas 

Answer 3

Andrew, what a wonderful gift you shared with all of us. Thank you! My youngest cousin passed away in February after a lifetime of illness, surgeries, stunted growth and organ failures. He was one of the early kidney transplant patients in 1978, when he was just 12. Despite this, he was a successful Aerospace Engineer for Lockheed Martin. Hepatitis C from the transplant destroyed his liver and his liver transplant was successful, giving him another 12 years of life. After a lifetime of counting pills and medical interventions, Jon succumbed to a rare pneumonia due to his immunocompromised state. He requested his brothers include "It is Well with My Soul," a hymn that sustained him through his darkest days, at his Memorial Service. Two days later, I sang "It is Well with My Soul" on Sunday with my own church choir. It was a serendipity that will remain with me always as a reminder of Jon.

I appreciate knowing the story as presented in the amazing YouTube narration.

We all bear witness to the tragedies overcome by the ancestors we help to "live on" at WikiTree. Without their determination to survive and surmount, where would we be?

Thanks again for 15 minutes of inspiration.

Comments

Hi Kie,

That is a very powerful story of your cousin! The struggles and suffering of this world so many have had to endure, but knowing they came through and their stories that touch so many lives in their hymns, poetry and strength passed on to the next generations gives hope to us all. 

Thank you for sharing

May you have a Blessed Christmas 

Answer 4

Thank you. I knew a very small piece of the story; that was moving enough. The full tale brought me to tears.

Comments

This is in regards to another notable Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)

The success and tragedy yet his  giving to others is remarkable. There is a movie also “I Heard The Bells” a 2022 “Christmas” category drama that is really a great movie this time of year.

See the YouTube movie trailer by Sight and Sound Here

Both Horatio Spafford and Henry Longfellow have very interesting lives. I wonder if the two ever met? I’m sure Horatio knew and heard of H.W.L 

Answer 5

"It Is Well with My Soul" is my favorite hymn! The words have such a strong impact and I can only imagine his thoughts as he penned the words. My husband, our sons, our music minister, our pastor, and several friends know that this song is to be sung at my funeral. It gives me great joy to know that it is well with my soul.

Answer 6

Oh, my! I'm tearing up again. I did not know the story.

I sang this song at my dad's funeral.

Comments

It touches the lives of so many even after all these years in so many different ways; the story behind the song.

Answer 7

One of my favorite songs ever. Thank you for this reminder that not every Christmas (or any day for that matter) is merry and bright. Your timely reminder is deeply appreciated.

Comments

I agree…thank you