Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Jumping John

(930 posts)
58. Mary Fields
Sat Jun 30, 2012, 10:32 PM
Jun 2012


"Although she may have been one of the toughest women ever to work in a convent, ‘Black Mary’ had earned the respect and devotion of most of the residents of the pioneer community of Cascade, Montana, before she died in 1914. In fact, Mary Fields was widely beloved. She was admired and respected throughout the region for holding her own and living her own way in a world where the odds were stacked against her. In a time when African Americans and women of any race enjoyed little freedom anywhere in the world, Mary Fields enjoyed more freedom than most white men.

Fields dressed in the comfortable clothes of a man, including a wool cap and boots, and she wore a revolver strapped around her waist under her apron. At 200 pounds, she was said to be a match for any two men in Montana Territory. She 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. By order of the mayor, she was the only woman of reputable character in Cascade allowed to drink in the local bar, and while she enjoyed the privilege, she never drank to excess. She was often spotted smoking cigars in public, and she liked to argue politics with anyone."

http://historythings.tumblr.com/tagged/Badass-Women-in-History

~~~~~~~~~

It would make a nice synonym if you go off-roading.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Joan Of Arc. Texasgal Jun 2012 #1
Joan of Arc? Rhiannon12866 Jun 2012 #2
gonna look for more. this was fun seabeyond Jun 2012 #3
anne bonny mopinko Jun 2012 #7
see... i knew that would be it. still looking though. nt seabeyond Jun 2012 #14
great list of fascinating women, thank you! Voice for Peace Jun 2012 #9
you are welcome. this is fun. nt seabeyond Jun 2012 #15
Queen Elizabeth I of England was no slouch. shraby Jun 2012 #4
She gets my vote Siwsan Jun 2012 #27
Or, maybe from mythology? longship Jun 2012 #5
Aung San Suu Kyi Onlooker Jun 2012 #6
Looks like an Eleanor to me. n/t BlueToTheBone Jun 2012 #8
Not sure about *the* toughest, but I'd include Boudica among them. redqueen Jun 2012 #10
i like this one, too. mopinko Jun 2012 #11
This message was self-deleted by its author redqueen Jun 2012 #16
Queen Nanny RevStPatrick Jun 2012 #12
like mopinko Jun 2012 #22
a few more seabeyond Jun 2012 #13
Carrie Nation OregonBlue Jun 2012 #17
much as i love me some angry, axe wielding woman, i just can't mopinko Jun 2012 #20
LOL. The poster was looking for the "toughest" woman. I don't agree with her sentiments but you OregonBlue Jul 2012 #66
Eleanor of Aquitaine Warpy Jun 2012 #18
Mine, too! PassingFair Jun 2012 #19
That is my favorite portrait of Elizabeth Siwsan Jun 2012 #29
no i need to watch "lion in winter" again. mopinko Jun 2012 #21
last of it seabeyond Jun 2012 #23
calamity jane hits a little close to home. mopinko Jun 2012 #24
Nancy Pelosi aaaaaa5a Jun 2012 #25
dammit, there was a woman during henry IIIV. forgot name pansypoo53219 Jun 2012 #26
athletes seabeyond Jun 2012 #28
Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias may be the most underrated great athlete aaaaaa5a Jul 2012 #64
this is really amazing. she came in 12 or 13 in all around best athletes with the author admitting seabeyond Jul 2012 #68
Betty White n/t madamesilverspurs Jun 2012 #30
I'll add the name of Boudicca - the British Queen of the Iceni Siwsan Jun 2012 #31
Absolutely, she was one, tough lady. SharonAnn Jun 2012 #48
I'd include Queen Boudica on any short list I made... HereSince1628 Jun 2012 #32
Hey! Great minds think alike Siwsan Jun 2012 #33
And apparently simultaneously! It must have been shifting in "THE FORCE" HereSince1628 Jun 2012 #46
Since Tortoiseshell Cats were sacred to the ancient Celts, it just seemed to fit Siwsan Jun 2012 #49
toughest characters seabeyond Jun 2012 #34
Catherine the Great charlyvi Jun 2012 #35
Do you want a human, or will animals work as well? MADem Jun 2012 #36
I'll second Harriet Tubman Kennah Jun 2012 #53
Tough as nails and she needed to be! There are a ton of great choices in the little video! MADem Jun 2012 #56
a good one. mopinko Jul 2012 #63
Rosa Parks... boston bean Jun 2012 #37
Hillary Clinton is the most tough ass women I've ever seen. Smart & tough! Little Star Jun 2012 #38
Hatshepsut, King of Egypt boston bean Jun 2012 #39
there you go! I was about to rail that no Egyptophiles here. Hatshepsut, the 1st female pharaoh hlthe2b Jun 2012 #50
Mom madamesilverspurs Jun 2012 #40
Johanna Ferrour (Peasants Revolt of 1381) rog Jun 2012 #41
Isabella Baumfree. Manifestor_of_Light Jun 2012 #42
Mary Harris Jones, aka "Mother Jones" Democracyinkind Jun 2012 #43
Africa probably has many, many women who's toughness can't be grasped by the likes of me. nt ZombieHorde Jun 2012 #44
true.... seabeyond Jun 2012 #45
Currently, for me tabatha Jun 2012 #54
Queen Lydia Liliuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii LiberalEsto Jun 2012 #47
Cleopatra angel823 Jun 2012 #51
Mother Jones or Harriet Tubman rurallib Jun 2012 #52
So many great ones...Oriana Fallaci, my weakness BeyondGeography Jun 2012 #55
Ripley corkhead Jun 2012 #57
Mary Fields Jumping John Jun 2012 #58
eleanor roosevelt, shirley chisholm, bella abzug, ann richards, molly ivins, barbara jordan eom ellenfl Jun 2012 #59
ann richards, molly ivins... love those gals. seabeyond Jun 2012 #61
What a wonderful thread! Why am I the marybourg Jun 2012 #60
you talked me into it. nt seabeyond Jun 2012 #62
What year Control-Z Jul 2012 #65
1986 mopinko Jul 2012 #67
what a fantastic thread. thank you all so much. mopinko Jul 2012 #69
Sea mentioned Molly Ivans Texasgal Jul 2012 #70
i do like molly, also. mopinko Jul 2012 #71
This thread made me smile! MerryBlooms Jul 2012 #72
I'm partial to Hatshepsut, of course! boston bean Jul 2012 #73
Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»History of Feminism»who is the toughest woman...»Reply #58