The Nurturing Legacy of My Second Great-Grandmother: Alice Frazier Harris

My second great-grandmother, Alice “Allie” (Frazier) Harris, was a special lady. I thought about her today, on Mother’s Day, as she was not only a mother and grandmother to her children and grandchildren but also to many others. She cared for her son-in-law’s baby sister after her mother died in childbirth and was recognized for her nurturing nature towards many in her community.

Alice is my second-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She is the grandmother of my maternal grandfather, Bobby Gene Shults.

Today I’m sharing the following excerpt from my Harris family kinship determination project about Alice Frazier. I’ve added some images.

Birth

Alice “Allie” Frazier was born on 28 September 1886 in Montague County, Texas, a county with wide valleys and high prairies on the border with Indian Territory in Northern Texas.[1]

Montague County, Texas, delayed birth certificate, no. 6-541 (1949), Alice Frazier, citing birth in 1886; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89VD-G42M).

Parents

Alice’s father, Richard Frazier, was born 12 March 1840 in Arkansas to parents from North Carolina and Tennessee.[2] Richard fought in the Civil War with the Company A of the 12^th Texas Cavalry. He entered the army as a private in October 1861 at age 24 and left as a Corporal. He was an Ensign for his company.[3] Richard married Nancy E. Briscoe in October 1863 in McDonald County, Missouri, where they lived until the 1870s.[4] By 1880, they had moved to Cooke County, Texas. At that time they had a large family of all boys, including John, William, Charles, Coleman, Austin, and Millard. [5] In 1886, Richard bought 53 acres from W.D. and Isabella Davis in Montague County for $227, 15 miles northeast of the town of Montague.[6] Richard probably raised feed for the many cattle ranchers in the area, like most farmers in Montague County.[7] Richard and Nancy sold the land he had purchased from W.D. Davis for $200 to B.W. Miller. Richard and Nancy both signed with a mark, probably because they hadn’t learned to write.[8] They crossed the northern Texas border and moved into Indian Territory in about 1887.[9]

School Years and Marriage

When Allie was about 14, her family resided in Township 7 of Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. Their family of boys had welcomed two more sons and three daughters: Elizabeth, Edmond, Alice, Albert, Minnie, and Sophia.[10] Alice was 13 years old and attending school along with her brothers Edmond and Albert.[11] She married Dock Harris in 1904.[12] They probably lived very close to each other—Richard Frazier was taxed in Pike in 1909.[13] Allie’s father, Richard, died in 1911, and her mother, Nancy, passed away in 1924.[14]

Motherhood

Allie was a gentle, sweet loving mother and grandmother—not just to her own family, but to many others.[15] She gave birth to four children, but two passed away.[16] When living in Carlisle, Lubbock County, Texas, her daughter’s husband’s family lost their mother after childbirth. The child was Christine Shults, and Mr. Shults let Alice and Dock keep the newborn for several months after Mrs. Shults died.[17] This must have been a sweet experience for Allie, who probably mourned the loss of her two children that died.

Grandmother Years

When Dock was a patient of the Eastern Oklahoma State Hospital from 1941-1957, Allie lived with her daughter’s family, Ettie and Les Shults. Ettie’s daughter Helen remembered that her Grandma Harris helped her with her children and household work, even mending and ironing her husband’s clothing.[18] Ettie’s son Bob remembered that Grandma Harris “made delicious cakes from scratch. They would fall in the middle then lots of home made frosting.”[19] She also made quilts and embroidered.[20] When on a trip in Oklahoma visiting family, Allie introduced her granddaughter Helen to her sister and family. They had a handicapped daughter at home, and Helen was impressed by the love they saw in that family.[21]

Alice’s Death

Allie passed away at age 70 on 15 March 1957, in the Fresno County Hospital.[22] After a funeral at Creager Funeral Chapel, she was buried 18 March 1957 in Sanger Cemetery.[23] Her obituary stated that she was survived by the widower, Doc Harris, a son, Bert Harris of Arizona, a brother Ed Frazier and a sister, Mrs. Minnie Shankles, both of Oklahoma; and five grandchildren.[24]

 

Children of Claude “Dock” H. Harris and Alice Frazier

1. Bert Cecil Harris, born 29 September 1905 in Marietta, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, United States;[25] married Ada Jewell Williamson 22 April 1924 in Lubbock County, Texas;[26] died 30 November 1982 in Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma.[27]
2. Ettie Belle Harris, born 28 March 1907 in Pike, near Marietta, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, United States;[28] married Charles Leslie Shults on 23 April 1924 in Lubbock County, Texas;[29] died 22 May 1954 in Sanger, Fresno County, California.[30]
3. [–?–] Harris, a boy, was born between January 1908 and April 1910 in Love County, Oklahoma.[31] He died before 15 April 1910 in Love County.[32]
4. [–?–] Harris, a boy, was born in 1917 in Love County, Oklahoma.[33] He died before 5 January 1920.[34]

 

Sources

[1] Montague County, Texas, delayed birth certificate, no. 6-541 (1949), Alice Frazier, citing birth in 1886; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89VD-G42M). David Minor, “Montague County,” Handbook of Texas (1952); article online, Texas State Historical Association (https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/montague-county).

[2] Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14296957), memorial 14296957, Richard Frazier (1840–1911), Burneyville Cemetery, Burneyville, Love County, Oklahoma; gravestone photo by Sharon Rhoades. See also 1850 U.S. census, McDonald County, Missouri, pop. sch., District 53, p. 101b, dwelling 124, family 124, Richard Frazer in James J Frazer household; database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3885279:8054).

[3] Compiled service record, Richard Frazier, Corporal, County A, 12 Texas Cavalry (Confederate); “US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Confederate – Texas, 1861-1865,” database with images, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/11776636/); citing Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations, compiled 1903-1927, documenting 1861-1865, Record Group 109, The National Archives.

[4] Nancy E. Frazier, widow of Richard Frazier, application no. A2988, 1915-1924, pension no. P1077, Record Group 5; digital images, “Confederate Pension Records Database,” Oklahoma Digital Prairie (https://digitalprairie.ok.gov/digital/collection/pensions/id/2530/rec/1); citing Commissioner of Confederate Pensions, Oklahoma State Archives, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma City. See also 1870 U.S. census, McDonald County, Missouri, pop. sch., Fox, p. 25A, dwelling 64, family 61, Richard Frazier; database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/5842028:7163).

[5] 1880 U.S. census, Cooke County, Texas, pop. sch., ED 113, p. 254b, dwelling 271, family 270, Richard Frazier; database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10472845:6742).

[6] Montague County, Texas, Deeds 5:600-601, W.D. and Isabella Davis to Richard Frazier, 26 November 1886; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3WM-N93N-9).

[7] David Minor, “Montague County,” Handbook of Texas (1952).

[8] Montague County, Texas, Deeds, 5:602-3, Richard and N.E. Frazier to B.W. Miller, 12 August 1887; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3WM-N17Q). For not being able to write, see 1900 U.S. census, Chickasaw Nation County, Indian Territory, pop. sch., Township 7, ED 177, p. 6, dwelling 89, family 91, Richard Frazier.

[9] 1900 U.S. census, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, pop. sch., Township 7, ED 177, p. 6, dwelling 89, family 91, Richard Frazier. Alice was born in September 1886 in Texas while Albert, the next child, was born in November 1888 in Indian Territory, indicating the family moved between those two dates.

[10] 1900 U.S. census, Chickasaw Nation County, Indian Territory, pop. sch., Township 7, ED 177, p. 6, dwelling 89, family 91, Richard Frazier.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Southern District, Indian Territory, United States, Marriages G:436, no. 1713, D.H. Harris and L Frazier, 20 November 1904.

[13] Love County, Oklahoma, Tax Roll, 1909, Burney Township, p. 8, personal property, R. Frazier.

[14] Find a Grave, memorial 14296957, Richard Frazier (1840–1911); gravestone photo by Sharon Rhoades. Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14139934), memorial 14139934, Nancy E Frazier (1847–1924), Burneyville Cemetery, Burneyville, Love County, Oklahoma; gravestone photo by Melanie.

[15] Helen Jensen (Bozeman, Montana) to Nicole Elder, letter, ca. 2003.

[16] Cherokee County, Oklahoma, “Report of Symptoms and History of Case by Examining Physicians,” 19 November 1937; D.H. Harris medical file.

[17] Christine Becker (Auburn, California), to Nicole Elder, letter, ca. 2003.

[18] Helen Jensen (Bozeman, Montana), to Nicole Elder, letter, ca. 2003.

[19] Bob Shults (Burley, Idaho), to Nicole Elder, letter, ca. 2003.

[20] Ibid.

[21] Helen Jensen (Bozeman, Montana), to Nicole Elder, letter, ca. 2003.

[22] California, Certificate of Death, no. 57-026734 (1957), Allie Harris.

[23] Ibid. See also Headstone of Allie F. Harris (1886-1957), image, added by Nicole Elder Dyer, FamilySearch Memories (https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/3170536).

[24] “Mrs. Allie Harris,” Sanger [California] Herald, 21 March 1957, p. 5, col. 4; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/sanger-herald-mrs-allie-harris/161964023/).

[25] He stated his place of birth was Marietta in his military records. “Enlisted Record of Bert C. Harris,” form AR 345-470; Bert C. Harris personnel file, service no. 38152728 (discharged 27 October 1944); Official Military Personnel Files, World War II, U.S. Army; National Personnel Records Center, St Louis, Missouri. See also “U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” card for Bert Cecil Harris, serial no. 545: Local Draft Board for Love County, Oklahoma. See also Oklahoma, Certificate of Death, no. 23626 (1982), Bert Cecil Harris; State Department of Health, Oklahoma City; privately held by Diana Elder, Highland, Utah. The death certificate was obtained in 2003 before death certificates in Oklahoma were made private for 50 years from the death.

[26] Lubbock County, Texas, Marriage License Record 2:546, Bert Harris and Jewell Amos, 22 April 1924.

[27] Oklahoma, Certificate of Death, no. 23626 (1982), Bert Cecil Harris. “Harris, Bert, 77 died Tuesday,” The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, 1 December 1982, p. 28, col. 5; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-harris-bert-77-die/52962171). See also Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14087725), memorial 14087725, Bert Cecil Harris (1905–1982), IOOF Cemetery, Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma; gravestone photo by J. David and Summer Day Medley Hannah.

[28] For date of birth, see California, driver’s license, no. V 449144, Ettie Belle Shults, issued 8 August 1944. For place of birth, see Bobby Gene Shults, “Bob Shults Remembers Mother: Mother’s Day Talk,” May 2008. Bob remembered his mother’s birthplace as Marietta, yet her father’s residence was actually in Pike, a rural part of Love County, at the time of Ettie’s birth. Love County, Oklahoma, Tax Roll, 1908, Burney Township, p. 53, personal property, D.H. Harris

[29] Lubbock County, Texas, Marriage License Record 2:549, Leslie Shults and Ettie Harris, 23 April 1924.

[30] California, Certificate of Death, no. 970 (1954), Ettie Bell Shults.

[31] D.H. Harris medical file, 1937-1957, no. [7111?], patient details and notes for admittance on 22 November 1937. See also Cherokee County, Oklahoma, “Report of Symptoms and History of Case by Examining Physicians,” 19 November 1937; D.H. Harris medical file.

[32] 1910 U.S. census, Love County, Oklahoma, pop. sch., Burney, ED 166, sheet 8A, dwelling 144, family 146, Dock H. Harris.

[33] D.H. Harris medical file, 1937-1957, no. [7111?], “Statistical Sheet,” for admittance on 11 November 1940.

[34] Cherokee County, Oklahoma, “Report of Symptoms and History of Case by Examining Physicians,” 19 November 1937; D.H. Harris medical file. See also 1920 U.S. census, Love County, Oklahoma, pop. sch., Washington, ED 131, sheet 5B, dwelling 68, family 79, D.H. Harris.