Union Mission Virtual Cache
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Visit the site of the Union Mission for some Oklahoma history that
pre-dates the land runs and even the Trail of Tears.
My family has lived in this area for over fify years but until
recently, we had not heard of or visited the Union Mission.
Although, the site is owned by the State of Oklahoma and it is
listed on the National Register of Historical Places, it is not
well publized or well known.
Union Mission was established in 1820 among the Osage Indians who
then inhabited this country. Some twenty or more men and women,
mainly from Boston, working under the auspices of the
Congregational Church, composed the personnel of the mission. Some
were preachers, some teachers, some farmers, and others were
carpenters and mechanics. They came here from the East by boat down
the Ohio and Mississippi and up the Arkansas and Grand rivers. They
started in the Spring of 1820 and reached their destination in
February, 1821. The mission site consisted of a thousand acres in
the bend of Grand River. It contained a fresh water spring and also
a good salt well. Not only was this the first mission and Indian
school within the bounds of present Oklahoma, but here was set up
the first printing press, and here the first Protestant marriage
ceremony was performed.
The coordinates above will take you to a monument noting the site
of the Union Mission. Across the road is the Union Mission Cemetery
containing the grave of the founder of the Union Mission, as well
as many members of the Chouteau family.
To claim this cache e-mail me the answer to the following
questions:
1. Who founded Union Mission?
2. What group erected the monument?
3. In the SW corner of the cemetery across the road from the
monument, there are two markers in a concrete slab. Whose grave is
marked by the southern-most marker?
While in the Union Mission area also visit the site of the school
that served this area 100 years later at N36 07.990 W095 18.439.
For extra credit, e-mail me the name of the school and the district
that it served.
Another interesting sight in the Mazie area are the many
prosperous Mennonite farms. On the road to Union Mission, the
Miller farm at N36 08.008 W095 20.470 is one example of a Mennonite
homestead where you can stop and buy cheese, eggs or other farm
products. At the Miller farm there are no power lines or telephone
lines going to the house or any of the outbuildings. Also, there
are no motorized vehicles except perhaps a tractor around the farm
(note the horse-drawn carriages). It is interesting to imagine a
life today without cars, electricity, or telephones.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)