This recipe was in my Mom’s recipe collection and it states it came from her cousin, Orphelia.

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup molasses
1 cup lukewarm water
1 tsp baking soda
2 3/4 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour

Cream together shortening and sugar in large mixing bowl. Add eggs and molasses. Dissolve baking soda in lukewarm water, add to mixing bowl. Add flour and mix well. Pour into a greased and floured 13 x 9 pan. In a small bowl mix brown sugar and flour to make crumb topping. Sprinkle crumb topping on top of cake batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Test with a toothpick. Remove from oven and cool.

A note at the bottom of the recipe states that Orphelia used 3/4 cup molasses and 1/4 King’s Table Syrup (link here to show what it is)