Samuel Fields facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Samuel Fields
Allegiance	United States Union
Service/branch	Union Army
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Samuel Fields was an interesting person from the American Wild West. He was an active member of the African-American community in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Fields moved to Deadwood around 1876. He hoped to find his fortune there. He claimed to have been a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War. However, this claim was not true.

Samuel Fields's Life in Deadwood

Fields was known by several nicknames. People often called him "General Fields." He was a clever and confident person. He often referred to himself as a "sly-coon."

In Deadwood, African Americans were a small group. Fields was a strong voice for his community. He often spoke at "Colored Citizens Meetings." He also took part in city political gatherings. He was a very good speaker. Because of his speaking style, he earned the nickname "Shakespearian Darkey."

The local newspapers found Fields very entertaining. They sometimes twisted his words to make better stories. For example, in June 1881, a tornado hit Deadwood Gulch. Fields correctly called it a cyclone. The Deadwood Times newspaper made fun of his statement. They called it a "Sly-Coon." This added another nickname to Samuel's list. Sometimes the newspapers reported real news about Fields. But often, they reported on small, funny events.

Challenges and Public Life

Fields seemed to be everywhere in Deadwood. In April 1878, he was arrested. This happened when Bill Gay shot and killed a man. Fields had carried a note between the man and Gay's wife. Bill Gay found the note. Gay was an important person in Deadwood. A nearby camp, Gayville, was named after him. Gay said the killing was an accident. He claimed he only meant to hit the man.

Fields was arrested the same day as Gay. He stayed in jail for several weeks. This was mostly for his own safety. Fields was soon set free. Bill Gay was found guilty of murder. He was sent to prison. Fields was proven innocent. But some people in Deadwood still thought he should leave.

In July, Fields was arrested for stealing. This happened at a place called "Lola's Place." His bad luck continued. Deadwood's first public school teacher was killed in August. It seemed Fields was often in the wrong place. Or, people just blamed him for bad things.

After the teacher was found killed, rumors spread. People said Fields had been seen near her room. An officer found footprints in her yard. They were the same size as Fields's shoes. The teacher's husband believed Fields was the killer. On August 20, 1878, Samuel was arrested. He was later released. But this event still caused problems for him.

Political Ambitions and Later Years

In 1879, Fields was suggested for a judge position in Deadwood. By November, he was giving speeches again. He used his "Shakespearian" speaking skills. But people in Deadwood remembered his past troubles. The audience threw eggs at him. He did not win the election. But this did not stop his political goals. In 1883, he worked to fill a vacant coroner position. He did temporarily hold this job.

During his time in Deadwood, Fields worked at several hotels. He was a porter at the Merchants, Wentworth, and International Hotels. He also worked as a waiter. By 1889, he had moved to Omaha, Nebraska. But a year later, he was back in South Dakota. He worked as a bellhop in Rapid City. After that, his story is not known.

Samuel Fields's adventures were often in local newspapers. One such paper was the Black Hills Pioneer.

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  Samuel Fields