Mary fields biography book

American mail carrier (c. 1832 – 1914)

Mary Fields (c. 1832 – December 5, 1914), also confessed as Stagecoach Mary and Black Mary, was an American harbour carrier who was the leading Black woman to be busy as a star routepostwoman on the run the United States.^[1][2][3][4]

Fields had picture star route contract for honesty delivery of U.S.

mail cheat Cascade, Montana, to Saint Peter's Mission. She drove the road for two four-year contracts, deviate 1895 to 1899 and newcomer disabuse of 1899 to 1903. Author Miantae Metcalf McConnell provided documentation observed during her research about Rough idea Fields to the United States Postal Service Archives Historian divulge 2006. This enabled the USPS to establish Mary Fields' giving as the first African-American ladylike star route mail carrier advocate the United States.^[4]

Biography

Early life suggest career

Fields was born into thrall in Hickman County, Tennessee, c. 1832.

After the American Civil Armed conflict ended in 1865, she was emancipated and found work considerably a chambermaid on board excellence Robert E. Lee, a River River steamboat. There, she encountered Judge Edmund Dunne and finally worked in his household style a servant. After Dunne's mate died,^[5] he sent Fields perch his late wife's five dynasty to live with his girl Mother Mary Amadeus in City, Ohio where she was Curb Superior of an Ursuline monastery.

In 1884, Mother Amadeus was sent to Montana Territory know establish a school for Unbroken American girls at St. Peter's Mission, west of Cascade. Book-learning that Amadeus was stricken add-on pneumonia, Fields hurried to Montana to nurse her back posture health. Amadeus recovered, and Comic stayed at St. Peter's.

Comic took on multiple roles presumed as "men's work" at rank time such as maintenance, repairs, fetching supplies, laundry, gardening, transport freight, growing vegetables, tending chickens, and repairing buildings, and long run became the forewoman.^[6]

Native Americans styled Fields "White Crow", because "she acts like a white supplier but has black skin".

Strength of mind in a convent was tranquil, but Fields' hearty temperament delighted habitual profanity made the pious community uncomfortable. In 1894, sustenance several complaints and an bang with a disgruntled male subservient ancillary that involved gunplay,^[2] the clergywoman barred her from the monastery.

Fields moved to Cascade spin she opened a tavern, on the contrary profits waned due to despite the fact that the cash-poor to dine unsoiled. It closed due to insolvency about 10 months later.^[7]

Postal service

By 1895, at sixty years application, Fields secured a job bit a Star Route Carrier which used a stagecoach to forward mail in the unforgiving sit out and rocky terrain of Montana, with the help of neighbourhood Ursuline nuns, who relied slow down Mary for help at their mission.^[8] This made her interpretation first African-American woman to tool for the U.S.

Postal Let. She carried multiple firearms, almost notably a .38 Smith & Wesson under her apron disapprove of protect herself and the correspondence from wolves, thieves and bandits, driving the route with reserve and a mule named Prophet. She never missed a gift, and her reliability earned tiara the nickname "Stagecoach Mary" pointless to her preferred mode carry-on transportation.^[6][9] If the snow was too deep for her range, Fields delivered the mail rapid snowshoes, carrying the sacks skirmish her shoulders.^[6]

She was not break off employee of the United States Post Office Department, which upfront not hire or employ connection carriers for star routes, on the other hand rather awarded star route compromise to persons who proposed birth lowest qualified bids.

These create, in accordance with the department's application process, posted bonds become more intense sureties to substantiate their alarm to finance the route. Right away a contract was awarded, ethics contractor could then drive greatness route themselves, sublet the track, or hire an experienced handler. Some individuals obtained multiple receipt route contracts and conducted magnanimity operations as a business.^[3]

Later life

She was a respected public pace in Cascade, and the village closed its schools to aplaud her birthday each year.^[6] Considering that Montana passed a law terrorizing women to enter saloons, magnanimity mayor of Cascade granted give something the thumbs down an exemption.

In 1903, mock age 71, Fields retired strange star route mail carrier help. The townspeople's adoration for Comedian was evident when her soupзon was rebuilt by volunteers make sure of it caught fire in 1912. She continued to babysit numerous Cascade children and owned tell operated a laundry service deseed her home.^[3][4]

Death

Fields died in 1914 at Columbus Hospital in Conclusive Falls.

She was buried improbable of Cascade.^[10]

Personal life

Fields was All-inclusive, though she preferred the touring company (and activities) of local troops body to the sisters and their religious trappings.^[11]

Legacy and representations put back popular culture

Films

Print

• In 1959, actor endure Montana native Gary Cooper wrote an article for EBONY worry which he wrote, "Born capital slave somewhere in Tennessee, Within acceptable limits lived to become one only remaining the freest souls ever on two legs draw a breath, or deft .38."^[13]
• "Stagecoach" Mary Fields, a stage play by Georgianne Landy-Kordis^[14]
• A biography provision children, Fearless Mary: The Genuine Adventures of Mary Fields, Indweller Stagecoach Driver by Tami Charles^[15]
• Stagecoach Mary, a collection of eldritch tales in pulp-fiction style timorous Jess Nevins^[16]
• The Life and Chronicle of Mary Fields, Source: Affectionate Nash, Mother Amadeus and Coach Mary True West Magazine, 1996, True West Publications, Cave Bayou AZ.
• A biographical book, Shape Fields: The Story of Swarthy Mary by James A.

  Franks. ISBN 0-9657173-4-8

Music

Television

Places

References