Cascade, Mont., was the quintessential frontier town of the Wild West, packed with saloons and home to a handful of settlers and gold seekers who built up the area after the railroad arrived. As statehood was approaching in 1889, all of Montana had fewer than 350 African-American residents. One of them lived in Cascade, and she delivered its mail. The gender-bending, cigar-smoking, fist-fighting Mary Fields, already in her 60s at the time, became the first African American (and the second woman) to drive a mail coach for the Wells Fargo Co. when she began her mid-Montana route in 1895. Story.
100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
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- Panzercat
- Levergunner 3.0
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100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
Cigar-Smoking, Gun-Toting Mary Fields Carried Montana’s Mail
...Proud owner of the 11.43×23mm automatic using depleted Thorium rounds.
- 2ndovc
- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
And a '76 Musket to boot! Can't get much cooler than that!!
jb
jb
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
" Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
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- Senior Levergunner
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- GonnePhishin
- Senior Levergunner
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Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
Wonder if she ever went rollin' down the river?
"The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." - Thomas Jefferson
"I know not what course other men may take, but as for me, Give me Liberty or Give me Death!" - Patrick Henry
"I know not what course other men may take, but as for me, Give me Liberty or Give me Death!" - Patrick Henry
Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
She looks like she could have sent others down the river if necessary. She's a very able looking lady.
Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
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So THAT'S where Tom Selleck got that Model 1876 Musket for his movie ! ! .
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So THAT'S where Tom Selleck got that Model 1876 Musket for his movie ! ! .
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Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
She doesn't look like someone to mess with.........jes sayin'
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- Levergunner 3.0
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Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
Cascade is my Montana Hometown. Nice little community--also the place where Charles M. Russell married and lived as a honeymooner. His little cabin still stands.
Mary was apparently a tough ol' gal.
Mary was apparently a tough ol' gal.
- Canuck Bob
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Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
Wonderful story, she overcame 2 huge barriers over half a century early by modern history. I suspect she was both tough and smart. I'm going to show my daughters!!
Alberta had an outstanding early black pioneer, John Ware. He is a similar local legend sadly fading from memory these days. He made his way here from South Carolina, and Texas in 1882. My family ranched near by and he was fondly remembered by the locals, at least in the 50s. There were tales about his unusual strength and his cowboy skills and those guys weren't easy to impress around horses or cattle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ware_(cowboy)
Alberta had an outstanding early black pioneer, John Ware. He is a similar local legend sadly fading from memory these days. He made his way here from South Carolina, and Texas in 1882. My family ranched near by and he was fondly remembered by the locals, at least in the 50s. There were tales about his unusual strength and his cowboy skills and those guys weren't easy to impress around horses or cattle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ware_(cowboy)
- CowboyTutt
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Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
Now that is impressive! I once went on a family vacation to the Bahamas in my late teens. It was a very powerful experience. The woman there had a swagger to them I have never forgotten and I would not mess! -Tutt
"It ain't dead! As long as there's ONE COWBOY taking care of ONE COW, it ain't dead!!!" (the Cowboy Way)
-Monte Walsh (Selleck version)
"These battered wings still kick up dust." -Peter Gabriel
-Monte Walsh (Selleck version)
"These battered wings still kick up dust." -Peter Gabriel
- Streetstar
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Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
Its wishful thinking --- but i wish the youth in the black community (and white community , greatness doesnt have a color) today would spend more time researching people like this lady, - George Washington Carver, Tuskeegee Airmen , Jackie Robinson etc etc than whatever antics "Puff Daddy" or Kanye West are up to
----- Doug
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Re: 100% Levergun Content: Mary Fields
Streetstar wrote:Its wishful thinking --- but i wish the youth in the black community (and white community , greatness doesnt have a color) today would spend more time researching people like this lady, - George Washington Carver, Tuskeegee Airmen , Jackie Robinson etc etc than whatever antics "Puff Daddy" or Kanye West are up to
Hear, hear!
And I believe Mary has a carbine, not a musket - the Model 1876 musket had a 32" barrel.
Riamh Nar Dhruid O Spairn Lann
- motto on the Irish Regiments' flags
- motto on the Irish Regiments' flags