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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

 

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vinman
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24 Jan 2018
01:10:43pm
I saw this posted on Facebook and checked Wikipedia before posting.

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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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Pogopossum

24 Jan 2018
06:00:00pm
re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

Now she is worthy of a postage stamp!

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klange
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24 Jan 2018
08:33:06pm
re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

A great portrayal of Stagecoach Mary appeared later in the incredible AMC TV series "Hell on Wheels" played by actress Amber Chardae Robinson.

I recommend you Netflix the series (or wherever it may be found). It's one of those I was disappointed to see leave (but they had to finish the construction of the railroad eventually - spoiler alert)

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Philatarium
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APS #187980

24 Jan 2018
09:47:13pm
re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

Wow! What a story!

Thanks for posting it!

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keesindy
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25 Jan 2018
12:37:10am
re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

An amazing story! Thanks for sharing!

Tom

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vinman
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25 Jan 2018
02:01:07am
re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

When I read the story I had to check and make sure it was true. These are the kind of stories I like to read, about the great spirit of people and how they handle life and the adversity it brings. This makes history and stamp collecting/postal history fun and exciting. These are the stories that should be taught in history class.

I picked up a book at The Chester County Historical Society gift shop while attend the lectures there. The title is "The Hidden History of Chester County" by Mark Dixon. Short chapters of 3-5 pages that tell the stories of the people who helped in the founding and shaping the county.

Vince

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smaier
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Sally

25 Jan 2018
08:04:44pm
re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

Vince - thanks for sharing the story and the reference. Very interesting, and I agree she is much more deserving of a stamp than some of the recent US issues.

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Author/Postings
Members Picture
vinman

24 Jan 2018
01:10:43pm

I saw this posted on Facebook and checked Wikipedia before posting.

Image Not Found

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.


Like 
10 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

wrdv.org/
Pogopossum

24 Jan 2018
06:00:00pm

re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

Now she is worthy of a postage stamp!

Like 
5 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
klange

24 Jan 2018
08:33:06pm

re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

A great portrayal of Stagecoach Mary appeared later in the incredible AMC TV series "Hell on Wheels" played by actress Amber Chardae Robinson.

I recommend you Netflix the series (or wherever it may be found). It's one of those I was disappointed to see leave (but they had to finish the construction of the railroad eventually - spoiler alert)

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Philatarium

APS #187980
24 Jan 2018
09:47:13pm

re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

Wow! What a story!

Thanks for posting it!

Like
Login to Like
this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
keesindy

25 Jan 2018
12:37:10am

re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

An amazing story! Thanks for sharing!

Tom

Like
Login to Like
this post

"I no longer collect, but will never abandon the hobby"
Members Picture
vinman

25 Jan 2018
02:01:07am

re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

When I read the story I had to check and make sure it was true. These are the kind of stories I like to read, about the great spirit of people and how they handle life and the adversity it brings. This makes history and stamp collecting/postal history fun and exciting. These are the stories that should be taught in history class.

I picked up a book at The Chester County Historical Society gift shop while attend the lectures there. The title is "The Hidden History of Chester County" by Mark Dixon. Short chapters of 3-5 pages that tell the stories of the people who helped in the founding and shaping the county.

Vince

Like 
5 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

wrdv.org/
Members Picture
smaier

Sally
25 Jan 2018
08:04:44pm

re: First African American mail carrier, Mary Fields

Vince - thanks for sharing the story and the reference. Very interesting, and I agree she is much more deserving of a stamp than some of the recent US issues.

Like
Login to Like
this post
        

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