Horatio Spafford was a senior partner in a large law firm and a real estate investor in post-Civil War Chicago. The Spafford’s were close friends of Dwight L. Moody, the evangelist.
A fire broke out in the O’Leary barn on the southwest side of Chicago on October 8, 1871 and the flames swept through the heart of the city for 24 hours. Destruction to life and property was massive. The fire killed 300 people, made 90-100,000 people homeless, and destroyed 17,500 buildings. The fire destroyed most of Spafford’s investments which he had purchased in the spring of that same year. The fire was finally put out by rain.
A couple of years later, the Spafford’s decided to sail to England with their four daughters to tour with Dwight L Moody while Moody was preaching there. Unfortunately, business demands delayed Horatio, so he sent his wife Anna and their four daughters ahead to England where Horatio would join them later. His wife and daughters sailed aboard the steamship Ville du Havre on November 22, 1873. Later during the voyage, their ship was struck by another vessel and the Ville du Havre sank killing most of those aboard. All four of the Spafford daughters died in the sinking. Miraculously Anna survived.
Anna arrived safely in Wales. She began her telegram to Horatio informing him of the tragedy with the words “Saved alone. What shall I do.”
Horatio departed shortly thereafter to join his grieving wife. During the voyage to Wales, the captain of his ship called him to the bridge and informed him that they were now passing over the area where the Ville du Havre sunk. Sometime after this meeting with the captain, Horatio Spafford sat down and wrote the following words:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ (yes, He has) has regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soul
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought (a thought)
My sin, not in part, but the whole (every bit, every bit, all of it)
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more (yes)
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul
These words written by this grieving Christian who nevertheless knew that his daughters were at peace and in a good place.
The Spafford’s went on to have three more children, a son and two daughters. Unfortunately, in 1880 their only son Horatio, Jr. died of scarlet fever. The family subsequently moved to a settlement in Jerusalem and Horatio Spafford died there in 1888.
It is amazing that out of such horrible tragedy that Horatio Spafford would write down heartfelt words that would eventually become a most beloved and treasured Christian hymn that has blessed many over the years. God works in mysterious ways.
