Monday, April 15, 2013

A to Z April Challenge: M is for Mahulda


This is Day 13 of the A to Z April Challenge.  My theme is women with unusual names although I must cheat now and then or I’ll have a name and no story.

is for Mahulda Jane Frazier.  Mahuldy.  Hulda.  Daughter of Thomas and Julia Ann Frazier Frazier of Rockingham County, Virginia.  My second cousin, three times removed.  And apparently “the other woman extraordinaire.” 

Between 1880 and 1907, Mahulda had 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls, all who went by the last name “Frazier.”  But if you ask some of their descendents, the father of those 8 was one Francis Marion “Dosh” Garrison. 

Mahulda Frazier
grandson Homer Frazier
If Mahulda and Dosh were ever married, there seems to be no record.  Besides, Dosh was busy being husband and father of 13 little Garrisons with his legal wife, Tex Ann Bruce Garrison (isn’t that a great name?). 

In 1913, six years after the birth of her last child and six years after Dosh’s death, Mahulda married John W. L. Shiflett.  Apparently they had no children together.  No big deal – she had 8 already, and John had 7 with a previous wife (rumor has it he married 6 times, so I don’t think Mahulda was his last).  But if you ask some of Mahulda’s descendents, the father of those 8 children – or some of them at least – was John W. L. Shiflett. 

Yeah, any discussion of “who’s your daddy?” is fightin’ words.

Mahulda died January 4, 1947, in Greene County, Virginia.  She is buried right opposite Tex Ann Garrison.  Isn't life funny?


Frazier women
The Frazier Women
photo courtesy of John and Janet Thompson


  1. Minnie Frazier – Mahulda’s daughter-in-law married to Thomas Jefferson Frazier
  2. Martha Frazier – Minnie’s daughter-in-law
  3. Sarah Frazier – Mahulda’s daughter
  4. Mahulda herself
  5. Violet – Sarah’s daughter and Mahulda’s granddaughter
  6. Minerva – Mahulda’s daughter
  7. Beatrice – Minnie’s daughter-in-law


March on over to the A to Z April Challenge for More Marvelous blogs.




© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

23 comments:

  1. "Who's your Daddy?" What a Hoot, and a question one probably dared not ask back in the day....paper work or not. Paternity testing...out of the question and DNA testing...no such thing. What a strong woman Mahulda Jane must have been...all those children given her maiden name.

    Yes, Tex Ann is a great name. Understandable for someone in Texas, like my Great Aunt Texannah, but in Virginia?

    My Letter 'M'...Modern Marvels
    Sue CollectInTexasGal
    AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

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    1. I've seen several people named Tex--something in Greene County, Virginia. I wonder if THEIR folks hailed from Texas.

      And yeah, the Fraziers and Garrisons do NOT discuss daddies.

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  2. I continue to be amazed at the Christian names in your family - they are so distinctive. I must read all your entries more thoroughly when I have time. I am flagging a bit with this challenge, though I realise I have been too ambitious in my theme - a lesson for next time! Yours is ideal in content and length!

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    1. Don't feel bad. I'm struggling with some of my letters because there's not much to say, really.

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  3. You do have some wonderful names in your family and what a great lady Mahulda must have been. I can't imagine having such a large family.

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    1. I can't imagine either, especially with no man to work the farm or bring in a steady income. However, Dosh did try to do the right thing by providing for her kids. Still ....

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  4. Muhulda must have gotten a large pile of cards on Mother's Day!

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  5. Yet another name I've never come across...

    I second the comment about the Mother's Day cards!

    Have a great day, Wendy!

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    1. And yet, I have a couple Mahulda's in my database. Must have been popular in them thar hills.

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  6. Wow, Wendy, you do have some unusual names!

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  7. Maybe Tex Ann and Mahulda were sister wives! HA!

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  8. And we thought it was all proper in the "olden" days!
    Happy Half Way A-Z!

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    1. It was wilder and woolier than we can imagine.

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  9. What a fun A to Z theme! I know I've been here before but I think I forgot that this was your theme. hehe

    This is an unusual name - I've never heard it before.

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  10. No matter who was the father, they sure did have a lot of kids back then! Whew! My uterus hurts just reading your post.

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    1. STOP -- I'm snorting coffee out of my nose!

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  11. Mahulda was a mudda one way or annuda...and what a story she has to tell about it too! Fun story, great name!

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    1. Darn - I wish I had thought of that line. HA HA

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  12. So happy to have found this blog spot, I have been searching for Mahulda's last name for the past hour! Thanks for sharing! Great Story!

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