Mary Fields

Poet: Ken Jordan Poem: Stagecoach Mary Edited by: Sparkle Jordan written: January/2014  Mary Fields, (1832-1914). born a slave, somewhere in Tennessee, on the  Dunnes Plantation - She  became  the first African American (male or female) to deliver  the U. S. mail in  America - She was  a tall  woman,  over 6 Ft,  and  strong, weighting over two hundred pounds, who  didn't shy  away  from  a brawl or two if need be - She rolled  cigars,  chewed gum,  drank  plenty whiskey,  and was famous for caring  a pistol,  and rode a mule name  Moses - Mary, had  also a pet eagle, and a penchant for baseball - She wore buffalo skin dresses that she made herself - She must have been an intimidating  figure to  behold - In 1892, Benjamin Harrison, was President - During those days, Wells Fargo, had the U.S. mail contract, and needed a  stagecoach  driver with  a strong will, and survival skills for the  rough route between Great Falls, Montana  to  Fort Benton - They chose  sixty year old Mary Fields, who was  more than capable  of doing the job - It was rumoured  that she could hitch a team of horses faster than the boys half her age - Mary, became a legend, tales of her adventures was well known in all the pioneer towns of Central Montana and neighbouring  states -  Her reliability  and work ethics, earned her the  name "Stagecoach," Mary, by  the folks along the mail trail - Mary, and her mule Moses, never missed  a day of  work in  nine years, and was never held up - Mary Fields, retired in 1901, paving  the way forward for African American's to follow -