Here is what I learned from MatthewRuttan.com/Up yesterday, and I quote:
Today’s Thought
Horatio Spafford lived in Chicago. And when the great fire of 1871 ripped through the city, not only did it destroy his home, but it destroyed much of his livelihood. (He was in real estate.)
Did I mention he had no insurance?
This was a huge blow at an already difficult time. The previous year he and his wife had lost their son to scarlet fever.
So now, having no home, he put his wife and four daughters on a ship back to England as he stayed behind to try and get things started again.
Shortly thereafter he got a telegram from his wife that said, “Saved alone. What shall I do?”
There had been a shipwreck at sea. All four of their daughters drowned.
Horatio got on a ship to go and meet his wife. As he passed over the very same waters where his daughters had lost their lives, he wrote some lyrics to a song. Some of you will know them very well:
“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.”
These are the now-famous words to the hymn “It is well.”
How many of us can say, “It is well with my soul” even without going through the tragedies that Horatio did. There lived a man with great faith. When we get to that place in our lives, we will be blessed indeed.
My Precious Life 
I had heard this tragic but wondrous story before, but it is so powerful that it bears repeating time and again! I love the song that his words finally inspired. He was a great man of faith, no doubt. Thanks for sharing his story.
Steve
I agree, Steve, it should be shared often.
I sang this past in the summer of 2015, the power of it’s words are even more astounding surrounded by the circumstances in which it was written. The version I have on file says Horatio was inspired to write it when he to was journeying to England by boat to travel back to America with his distraught wife, the Captain diverted over the area where his four daughters were lost. One can only imagine how his grief, turned into such epic faith for all who hear it. God’s word is written in our everyday lives not just in the Bible.
Thank you for your comment. Im always humbled by such faith.