After these events, the surviving Spaffords started a religious community/hotel in Jerusalem, which became a neutral meeting place for palestinian and israeli leaders. The patriarch, alas, had intermittant episodes of insanity towards the end of his life, confusing self with Jesus.
Yes, the Spafford's work in Jerusalem was wonderful. And this hymn. What a terrible tragedy. And that hotel they founded (used to be the orphanage) is so beautiful.
Another Spafford tidbit: After losing all their children, they returned to their home church in (Ohio?), only to have the congregation turn against them. They reasoned that they must have been really terrible people if God would let their family die. They must have deserved it. Can you just imagine?