They say Mary Fields had a spirit as untamed as the Wild West itself. Known far and wide as “Stagecoach Mary” for her grit and fearlessness, it wasn’t just her toughness that made her a legend—it was her unwavering dedication to the people she served.
Towering at over six feet tall and always ready for the harsh conditions of the frontier, Mary braved the backroads of Montana in the late 1800s, delivering mail over 300 miles each week. Armed with a rifle and revolver, she rode with fearless determination, defending her precious cargo from danger. Yet it was her kindness, loyalty, and unshakable will that truly earned her a place in Western history.
From Slavery to Western Icon
Mary Fields was born into slavery around 1832 in Hickman County, Tennessee. Much of her early life remains a mystery, but after the Civil War, she seized her freedom and set out to shape her own destiny—first working on a steamboat, then as a house servant for Judge Edmund Dunne in Ohio.
It was during this time that she met Mother Mary Amadeus, a nun who would profoundly influence her path. When Mother Amadeus moved to Montana to open a convent school and later fell ill, she sent for Mary. True to her nature, Mary made the difficult journey west to care for her—and chose to make the frontier her home.
