Mary Fields facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Fields
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Fields c. 1895
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| Born | c.1832 |
| Died | December 5, 1914 Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Freighter, cook, domestic worker, star route mail carrier |
| Known for | First African-American woman star route mail carrier in the U.S. |
Mary Fields (around 1832–1914), also known as Stagecoach Mary and Black Mary, was an amazing and brave woman. She was the first African-American woman to become a star-route mail carrier in the United States. This means she delivered mail along a special route.
Mary Fields wasn't directly hired by the United States Post Office Department. Instead, the Post Office gave contracts to people who offered the best prices to deliver mail. Once someone won a contract, they could drive the route themselves or hire someone else. Mary Fields got a contract to deliver mail from Cascade, Montana, to Saint Peter's Mission in 1895. She drove this route for eight years, from 1895 to 1903.
In 2006, a writer named Miantae Metcalf McConnell found old documents about Mary Fields. She shared them with the United States Postal Service. This helped the USPS officially recognize Mary Fields as the first African-American female star-route mail carrier in the U.S.
Biography
Early Life and Work
Mary Fields was born into slavery in Hickman County, Tennessee, around 1832. After the American Civil War ended, she became free. She found work as a chambermaid on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. There, she met Judge Edmund Dunne. She later worked as a servant in his home.
When Judge Dunne's wife passed away, he sent Mary Fields and his wife's five children to live with his sister, Mother Mary Amadeus. Mother Amadeus was the leader of a convent in Toledo, Ohio.
In 1884, Mother Amadeus moved to Montana Territory. She went there to start a school for Native American girls at St. Peter's Mission. When Mary Fields heard that Mother Amadeus was very sick, she quickly traveled to Montana to help her. Mother Amadeus got better, and Mary Fields stayed at St. Peter's.
At the mission, Mary Fields did many jobs that were usually done by men. She handled maintenance, repairs, and brought in supplies. She also did laundry, grew vegetables, took care of chickens, and fixed buildings. She eventually became the forewoman, which meant she was in charge of many workers. The Native Americans at the mission called her "White Crow." This was because they felt she acted like a strong woman, even though she had black skin.
Mary Fields was a strong and independent person. Her tough personality and habit of using strong language sometimes made the nuns at the convent uncomfortable. In 1894, after some complaints and a disagreement with a male worker, the bishop asked her to leave the convent.
Mary Fields then moved to Cascade, Montana. She opened a tavern there. However, she often let people who didn't have money eat for free. Because of this, her business went bankrupt and closed after about 10 months.
Delivering the Mail
By 1895, when Mary Fields was 60 years old, she found a new job. She became a Star Route Carrier. This job involved using a stagecoach to deliver mail in Montana's harsh weather and difficult, rocky land. The Ursuline nuns from the mission, who relied on Mary for help, supported her in getting this job. This made her the first African-American woman to work as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.
Mary Fields was known for being fearless. She carried several firearms, including a .38 Smith & Wesson gun under her apron. She used these to protect herself and the mail from wolves, thieves, and bandits. She drove her route with horses and a mule named Moses. She was so reliable that she never missed a day of work. Her dedication earned her the nickname "Stagecoach Mary" because she often used a stagecoach. If the snow was too deep for her horses, Mary Fields would deliver the mail on snowshoes, carrying the heavy mail sacks on her shoulders.
Later Years
Mary Fields was a respected person in Cascade. The town even closed its schools each year to celebrate her birthday. When Montana passed a law saying women couldn't go into saloons, the mayor of Cascade made a special exception just for her.
In 1903, at age 71, Mary Fields retired from delivering mail. The people of Cascade loved her very much. In 1912, her home caught fire. Volunteers from the town quickly rebuilt it for her. After retiring, she continued to babysit many children in Cascade. She also ran a laundry service from her home.
Death
Mary Fields passed away in 1914 at Columbus Hospital in Great Falls. Her funeral was one of the largest the town had ever seen. She was buried outside Cascade.
See also
In Spanish: Mary Fields para niños
