Born a slave in Tennessee on May 15, 1832, Mary Fields grew up an orphan, never married and had any children. But she was admired and respected for holding her own and living her own way in a world where the odds were stacked against her. While African Americans and women of any race enjoyed little freedom anywhere in the world, Mary Fields enjoyed more freedom than most white men.
At the end of the Civil War, the 6-foot tall and 200 pounds Fields headed to Montana in search of opportunity and was hired to do heavy work for the nuns at a Catholic convent in Cascade. Fields carried a pair of six-shooters and a 10 gauge and loved the children of Cascade County. The tough, short-tempered woman had a standing bet that she could knock a man out with one punch, and she never lost a dime to anyone foolish enough to take her up on that bet. She was also the only woman of reputable character in Cascade allowed to drink in the local bar as ordered by the mayor. But this tough woman also had a caring side to her.
Mary Fields helped build the St. Peter’s mission school and supported the local baseball team as its No. 1 fan, preparing buttonhole bouquets of flowers for each player from her own garden, with larger bouquets reserved for home-run hitters. After opening her own cafe with the help of the nuns, she closed shortly thereafter because she fed the hungry who were unable to pay (although rumors suggested her cooking was horrible).
After Bishop Brondell, the first Catholic bishop in Montana, received complaints about her behavior (the fights, the drinking and smoking), he told the convent that Mary Fields must leave. The nuns helped secure a mail route for her and Fields became the second woman in the country to manage a mail route. They even supplied her with a wagon and a team of horses for the route. Mary became a legend known as “Stagecoach Mary” for her unfailing reliability as she never missed a day on the job.
Fields retired from stagecoach driving at the age of 70 and opened a laundry business. The people of the town thought so highly of her that on her birthday they would close the local school in her honor. She would then buy candy and treats for the children. Fields was also treated to free meals at the New Cascade Hotel for the rest of her life when it was leased in 1910. Two years later, when her home (and laundry business) burned down, the citizens built her a new one.
Sensing that the end was near in 1914, Fields took some blankets and went into the tall weeds near her home. Some children playing nearby found her lying there, and she was taken to the hospital where she died a few days later. She was buried in a small cemetery alongside the road between Cascade and St. Peter’s Mission that she had traveled so many times during her life. Her grave is marked with a simple cross.
Love her. I will love to read more about her. I love women that do what makes them happy and that is why they stand out among the rest.
I think we as people of color really need to take a look at our ancestors.. Because the way we act today is not even a good look!
Yeah…I would take off runnin if i saw her coming at me.
I love CL for this. Its so great to learn something about my heritage. Great story.
BLUUU- PHIII 1914
Wow! Ms. Mary Fields didn’t play that Shit!
wow.
i LOVED that she knocked out white men with one punch. LOL sorry I just do.
This is why I love Conrete!! Thank you for this bit of history!!
greatness.
she ran things. thats how grown women do it.
WOW she is a tough woman, I wouldn’t have walked up on her in that time era. But the fact that she was a slave, Its cool that she worked after the fact; that’s a strong black woman.
Uh..whoa..speechless…and not in a good way
A movie should be made about this woman, she is an interesting character
I wonder how many comments this blog is gonna get. 20 at most
SHE OPENED A LAUNDRY BUSINESS AT 70. WOW. THAT’S DEFINITELY A STRONG WOMAN.
CL SHOULD DO POSTS ABOUT ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE THAT INVENTED THINGS WE ALL USE. I BET MANY OF THE YOUNGER READERS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS BLACK PEOPLE INVENTED.
I never heard of her thanks for the info…I bet they were scared to tell her to leave that convent
Wow!
the power black women have never ceases to amaze me. A black woman respected in the 19th century… crazy.
She reminds me of grandma rip. She ddnt take nonsense from n e one yet she had a soft side ppl rarely saw. That’s a strong courageous woman who held her own in a repressive society. U learn something new everyday.
Nice write up. Enjoyed today’s history lesson
THANK YOU Ms. Mary!!
This was a great read, thanks CL.
Now that’s a bad “bitch”
What a great story. CL be having the real deal with these story. Always keeping me thinking. Bless Ya CL.
At 1st i thought CL was introducing us to a new singer( until i read the title) oops!…She aint playin wit that gun, and she was tall..im sure no 1 messed with her..even the dog look like it will bite the bitch outta you!…Good Ole History Facts 4 the day! Love it! learn something or sum 1 new everyday!
WHO WROTE THIS ARTICLE?! WAS MARY FIELDS TALL OR A SHORT WOMAN? I’M CONFUSED
Btw are Mrs. Fields Cookies Based Off Her last name??? Could be ya never know(serious)
**Okay, I see it now!**
I love this story…Thanks CL for a look back into time. It makes me feel like life is all in what you make it.
@ Lis, it says short-tempered. LOL. She was 6 foot tall.
@27, I have a bad habit of scanning through, but I did read the entire article. Very good one! lol
Learn something new every day, She was a powerful women. Thanks CL!!!!
COMMENTS 1, 2, 3 & 21
GOOD Afternoon….
@24. She was tall “6-foot.” She was also “short-tempered”, as in easily angered.
lol look at the dog
And thus, the birth of “Lesbianism”!
Never needed a man, never wanted a man.
I love her confidence. A very strong black woman.
Wow @ the first sentence “Never had no children”…. Wow just because it’s an article about slavery times means we have to use improper grammar?
She don’t play but I learn something new everyday. Thanks CL
LOL the dog is funny lookin. I find his facial expression hilarious for some reason.
Great article! Mary Fields seems like an interesting person, thanks for dropping a little bit of knowledge on me today, CL…
OOOH, SHE AINT SOMEONE U’D WANNA HAVE IT OUT WIT!! LOOK @ HOW SHE HOLDIN THAT SHOT GUN… OOOO, AND THE DOG!
LOL, I didn’t notice the dog! I bet you won’t pet him! lol.
Wow, never heard of her, very interesting read! Love CL’s Spotlights!
A DNA test would provide a strong match between Mary Fields, Serena Williams and South African runner Caster Semenya.
LOL youz a fool Meat.
Interesting, I <3 Black History spotlight. I wish other blogs were as enlightened.
@Educated Goon
Name that Dog for me (lol), you are too funny! lol.
I have never of heard of this fantastic woman..thanks CL!
@Educated Goon
lol they edited the first sentence
More black l*sbian glorification lmao & smh. This is just proof that the “strong black woman” movement = feminism movement = l*sbian movement. Women like Mary Fields, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, etc. were all l*sbians and that is the ONLY reason why they are commemorated. The white man does not want the black women to see femininity in accord with the family unit….just some dyke trying to knock out men. I gurantee that those children that she “loved” were all white children lol.
What a Courageous, brave and strong willed woman. If black people weren’t so divided we could be so powerful!
I was wondering where you were Judah! I knew you were coming! (smile).
@ 36. I edited it. LOL. I didn’t even catch that one and Judah always has something to say. Damn!
Taurus women are SO thorough… Shout to Ms. Fields, she and I have the same birthday!!!
This was my first time really reading the “spotlight’ and I am so happy I did. I’m proud to have read about someone like Ms. Fields. And her life was even an example that whites and blacks did get a long. Look at how they treated her. She’s like my new hero now.lol
Im shocked she was allowed to even act like that back in those days. hmmm
@ Angel….. that damn Judah he seems really hateful and sad
Wow great read, she was def about her business.
This is the kinda women we need out there now, stong black women God bless their souls, all those who made the path for us (black) to follow.
@49 Judah u always got something negative to say why?? wow i don’t know wat u want anymore they give celebs negativity, they give a bit of your history negativity wat is she now a lesbian and the anti-christ, mason yeah? wat are u??? lool
Thank you sooo much for this CL, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of her. She was a badd lady! I wanna know more about her too; she seems very interesting. I love the fact that she didn’t take mess from anybody but would help out those in need. It’s nice to know that there was at least one respected black woman from back in the day!
@52ANGELONFIRE
This is off the subject! but can you please get the name of that dog! LOL have a good day girl!