While out looking for cemeteries some friends and I came across a sign on the highway that said "Cemetery". It wasn't on our list of the ones we had planned to visit but we are not the type to pass one up that so gladly volunteers. I am so glad we visited this one.
Union Mission, the first mission in Oklahoma, was organized and established in 1820 among the Osage by the United Foreign Missionary Society (Presbyterian Dutch Reformed). The first school in Oklahoma was opened in 1821 at Union Mission (about 5 miles northeast of Maizie in Wagoner County), with four French-Osage children as the first pupils. (
Credits)
This is an overview of the main burial ground.
(1820 - 1835)
Was placed on the
National Registry of
Historic Places
Sept 10, 1971 by the United
States Department of
the Interior.
Union Mission Chapter
National Society
Daughters of the
American Revolution
Union Mission was established in 1820 by the
United Foreign Missionary Society as a
mission to the Osage. It was in existence only 15
years but occupies a unique position in
Oklahoma history. It was the pioneer
institution in bringing Christianity and aspects
of western civilization such as education to
Oklahoma. Here was the site of the first
church, the first school, and the first protestant
wedding. The Union Mission Chapter
National Society Daughters of the American
Revolution feels a pride and obligation to
commemorate the brave spirits who labored
here.
November 7, 1992
Persons listed in the "Union Mission Journal"
as having died at this site between 1822 - 1825
and according to tradition who are buried
in Union Mission Cemetery, baby of Abraham
and Phoebe Beach Redfield - February 8, 1822,
Osage woman - October 17, 1822, Osage infant
October 19, 1822, Infant child of Mr and Mrs.
Fuller - March 9 , 1823, Robert Bake - August 20, 1823,
Charlotte Vaille, Child September 6, 1824,
Jane Redfield, Child - September 9, 1824,
Epaphras Chapman, First Missionary to the Osage -
January 17, 1825.
Inside this structure is the following.
The side panel reads:
Erected
by
Northeastern
Teachers College
1932
This is the top portion.
In
Memory of
Rev. Epaphras Chapman
who died Jan 1825
Aged 32
First Missionary to the
Osages.
Stay amoung the heathers, the Lord reigneth.
I found the following in excerpt in "The Christian spectator, Volume 7".
You can read more about Rev. Chapman and the Mission at the following links.
American missionary register, Volume 6 By United Foreign Missionary Society
The Missionary herald, Volume 17 by American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
"We honor their
memory, we call
their names, they
live again."
Choutea Family Graves
Originally located southwest of
cemetery. Desecrated by
vandals, markers discarded
by farmers late 1900. Rescued
and moved for permanent
memorialization Dec 2001.
Dedicated Apr 4, 2002. Joint
project of: Jean Pierre Choteau
descendants, Union Mission
Chapter Daughters of the
American Revolution, Alphs
Co. Thunderbird Younth
Academy and Oklahoma
Historical Society.
Contributors
Calvin Coverdell, Bert &
Arlene Nelson, Bill Kemp,
Rainbow Concrete Co and
Witt Monument Co.
Minerva
Wife of
JA Cheawteaw
Born April 14, 1825
Died
Feb 1, 1856
Musadora
Daughter of
James & Minerva
Chouteau
was born
??? 20, 1819
died
??????
Note: Minerva Rogers married James Augustus Chouteau, son of Auguste Chorteau and Rosalie Lambert.
James and Henry Chouteau were names listed on the Osage Treaty of June 2, 1825.
The following were all field stone markers with name plaques placed in front of them.
Charlotte Osage 1823 - 1824 Adopted orphan of George Requa
Osage Infant Died 1822
Osage Woman Died 1822
Moses Osage 1823 - 1824 Baby of Rev. Chapman
Harriett Wooley Montgomery Died 1834
Note: Rev. Montgomery died of either fever or cholera. Harriet, his third wife, died Aug. 27, 1834 at Union Mission also of fever.
Sarah Requa Died 1825 Wife of George Requa
Requa Baby 1825 - 1825 Baby of Sarah and George Requa
Requa Baby 1833 - 1833 Child of Susan and William Requa
Susan Comstock Requa Died 1833
Redfield Child 1827 - 1834 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield
Redfield Child 1831 - 1834 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield
Redfield Child 1829 - 1834 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield
Redfield Child 1833 - 1834 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield
Redfield Child 1822 - 1822 Child of Phoebe and; Abraham Redfield
Redfield Baby 1825 - 1826 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield
Jane Redfield 1823 - 1824 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield
Robert Bake Died 1823
Richard Howard Died 1826 Hired Laborer
Unknown
Fuller Baby 1823 - 1823 Child of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller
Freed Infant Slave
Vaill Child 2 1/2 years old
Charlotte Vaill 1823 - 1824
Across the road from this Union Mission Cemetery stands this marker.
On these Premises...
Union Mission
The first mission in Oklahoma
was founded in 1820
by Rev Eraphras Chapman
The First Press
was established and the fist
book printed in 1835
by
Erected by
Oklahoma Library Association 1935
More information on Rev. Samuel Worcester can be found at the following links.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
The life and Labors of Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D.: former pastor ..., Volume 1
Creating Cherokee Print: Samuel Austin Worcester’s Impact on the Syllabary
Find A Grave
