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 -
Copyright © Ken Jordan | Year Posted 2014
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