Person:Mary Russell (168)

Mollie Shaw c.1800 (Photo courtesy of Omaha Rhodes)

Mollie Polly Mary Delphine Amelia Dixie Russell Shaw was born on March 28 1861 in Choctaw County Alabama.

Tom Shaw was a shy man. He wanted to court Mollie but couldn't bring himself to ask for her hand. So, his cousin "Doc" moved in instead and married her. Mollie and Doc had two children together, Lissie and Vernon.

In 1885, Doc died, widowing Mollie and her two young children. Now was Tom's chance. He began to court Mollie.

On February 20, 1887, Tom finally married Mollie, having 6 more children (One died in childbirth).

Mollie Shaw and family c.1800 (Photo courtesy of Omaha Rhodes)

Black Gold

Oil is struck on the land in Houston County(Photo courtesy of Omaha Rhodes)

After moving to a 100 acre plot of land in Houston County the Shaw family built a small homestead in the middle of the land. It wasn't long before Elias made a strange prophecy. "There's Oil here" he said. Tom would never see his prophecy realized, though. In 1928, Tom died, Widowing Mollie, yet again. Still his prophecy came true; in 1930 Gulf Oil made a deal with the Shaws for a 90/10 split on the rights to drill on the Shaw homestead, with Mollie and her family getting the 10, the other 90% going to Gulf Oil. In 1932 Mollie Shaw Oil Derick #1, set up less than 200 feet from the homestead struck oil. The family would forever be changed.

Mollie Shaw #1 well burns near the homestead(Photo courtesy of Donna Davis)

In 1934 the number 1 well, only 200 feet from the homestead, erupted in flames, threatening the livelihood of all nearby. The well burned for many days, with the heat becoming unbearable for the homesteaders at times. Eventually the fire at #1 was extinguished and ultimately the well was dismantled. By then, however, more than 10 other wells had been dug and the oil was flowing.

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Later in her life, Grandma Shaw would preside over many arguments due to the posession of that oil. In one of the more memorable arguments, Mollies daughter Vera, arguing that Lissie and Vernon were not of Elias' family, attempted to have them excised from the oil lease. Mollie tolerated very little of this argument before she declared; "I can fix it so that you could be excised from the lease." Vera soon lost interest in the argument.

As she grew older, Mollie grew more and more frail. Pain plagued her often as she reached the end of her life. At one point, suffering from acute pain in her jaw, she sought out advice from the doctor. "Ms. Shaw, I think if you got your teeth pulled you'd feel a whole lot better". The doctor advised. Grimacing, Mollie replied; "Doctor, I've been wearing false teeth for 30 years." Stunnned, the doctor paused. He recovered quickly, however, "Well," he said, "we doctors have to say something".

Death

Mollie Shaw died on November 17, 1946 from old age. She was buried in the Clapp Cemetary, not real far from her homestead. Her grave lay next to Elias with a double tombstone.

Mollie Shaw's headstone at Clapp Cemetary in Houston County (Photo courtesy of Guy Davis)

Legacy

The Mollie Shaw Lease in 2009(Photo courtesy of Guy Davis)

As of 2009 there are many active wells on the land once owned by Mollie Shaw. The land was divided among her children however, it is still known as the "Mollie Shaw Lease".

Oil well 21 "B" in 2009(Photo courtesy of Guy Davis)

Family tree records from 1970 show middle name as "Delphine."

According to Omaha, Mollie's father moved the family when Mollie was 16 because she had a "special" boyfriend, and her father was afraid she was going to get into trouble.

After the death of her father and husband in 1925, she lived off and on with each of her four daughters.

Headstone reads Mollie D. Shaw 1861-1946 and is a double tombstone with E. Thompson.

Listed in the 1880 Trinity County, Texas Census as Mary D., age 19, born AL, father born AL, mother born SC. With father and siblings.

Listed in the 1910 Houston County, Texas Census as Mollie D. Shaw, age 49, married once for 23 years. Had 8 children, 6 of whom are still living. Born AL, parents born AL. With husband and 4 children.