Union Mission was established in 1820 by the United Foreign Missionary Society as a mission to the Osage. It existed for only 15 years but held a unique place in Oklahoma history as the pioneer institution in bringing Christianity and aspects of Western civilization such as education to Oklahoma. The site was the location of the first church, the first school, and the first Protestant wedding. Persons listed in the Union Mission journal as having died at this site between 1822 and 1825, and according to tradition buried in Union Mission Cemetery, were the baby of Abraham and Phoebe Beach Redfield, an Osage woman, an Osage infant, the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, Robert Bake, a Charlotte Vaille child, a Jane Redfield child, and Epaphras Chapman, the first missionary to the Osage.