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Also found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Fields
BOLD: "Stagecoach" Mary Fields (1832-1914), the first African American mail carrier (male or female) in the United States
Mary Fields began her life as a slave in
Tennessee in 1832, the exact date is unknown. Mary’s mother Susanna
was the personal servant to the plantation owner’s wife, Mrs. Dunnes.
The plantation wife also had a daughter who was born within two weeks of
Mary, and named Dolly. Mrs. Dunne allowed the children to play
together. Over the years Mary was taught to read and write and the two
girls became best friends. At sixteen, Dolly was sent to boarding
school in Ohio and Mary was left all alone.
Mary’s father worked in the fields on the Dunnes’ farm. He was sold
after Mary was born. Mary’s mother wanted her daughter to have a last
name, so since her father Buck worked in the fields, her mother decided
her last name should be Fields. So thus Mary Fields came to be. After
Mary’s mother passed away, Mary became the head of the household at the
young age of fourteen.
After Dolly went away to boarding school, The Civil War began. The
slaves were left to fend for themselves. It was during this time that
she learned many life survival skills. She learned how to garden, raise
chickens and practice medicine with natural herbs.
Around the age of 30 Mary heard from her dear friend Dolly. Dolly was
now a nun and was renamed Sister Amadaus. The Sister asked Mary to join
her at a convent in Ohio. Mary immediately began her twenty-day trip
from Tennessee to Ohio. Mary remained with the Ursuline Sisters for
many years – even when Dolly relocated to the St. Peter’s Mission in
Montana. Mary never married and she had no children. The nuns were
her family. She protected the nuns.
Mary wanted to follow her friend to Montana, but was told it was too
remote and rustic. However, that all changed when Mother Amadaus became
ill with pneumonia and wrote to Mary asking for her support and
healing. Mary wasted no time and departed for Montana by stagecoach in
1885. At 53 years old Mary started her new life in Montana. Mary
helped nurse Mother Amadaus back to health. The sisters were all in
amazement of this tough black woman. Mary was no stranger to rolling a
cigar, shooting guns and drinking whiskey. She grew fresh vegetables
that were enjoyed by the Sisters and the surrounding community. Mary
was forced to leave her beloved mission and the Sisters after a shooting
incident. Mary shot in self-defense, and was found innocent, but had
to find a new home.
Wells Fargo had the mail contract during that time and was looking for
someone for the Great Falls to Fort Benton route to deliver the U.S.
Mail. It was a rough and rugged route and would require a person of
strong will and great survival skills to maneuver the snowy roads and
high winds. Mary immediately applied at the ripe age of 60 years old.
It was rumored that she could hitch a team of horses faster than the
boys half her age and due to her toughness, she was hired! Mary became
the first African American mail carrier in the United States and the
second woman. Mary was proud of the fact that her stage was never held
up. Mary and her mule Moses, never missed a day and it was during this
time that she earned the nickname of “Stagecoach,” for her unfailing
reliability.
The townspeople adopted Mary as one of their own. They celebrated her
birthday twice a year since she didn’t know the exact date of her real
birthday. Mary Fields was known as Black Mary and Stagecoach Mary. She
was considered an eccentric even in these modern times. She was six
feet tall and over 200 pounds. By the time she was well known in
Central Montana, she had a pet eagle, a penchant for whiskey, baseball
(which was a new sport at the time) and a heart as big as the gun she
was famous for carrying. Mary wore a buffalo skin dress that she made
herself – you might say she drew attention wherever she went – even in a
small western pioneer town. Mary was a local celebrity and her legend
and tales of her adventures were known by surrounding communities and
neighboring states.
Gary Cooper (the actor) had his mail delivered by Mary as a young boy in
Cascade County. As an adult, he wrote about her for Ebony Magazine in
1955. Her wrote of her kindness and his admiration for her. The famous
western artists Charlie Russell drew a sketch of her. It was a pen and
ink sketch of a mule kicking over a basket of eggs with Mary looking
none to happy.
Mary retired her post in 1901 and passed away in 1914. She is buried at
Highland Cemetery at St. Peter’s Mission. Her grave is marked with a
simple cross.
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