Mount Union Services & Businesses

Welch's 1909-1910 book also documents a Methodist Episcopal church (500+ members by 1909, still active then) and a Baptist church and a United Brethren church — the latter explicitly described by Welch as already defunct, its building sold to become the Odd Fellows' Hall (Welch 1909-1910, printed pp. 273–294). Neither the Methodist nor Baptist congregations have a confirmed match among today's churches above; if you know what became of them, let us know. Africa's earlier 1883 book fills in more of that United Brethren church's own story before it went defunct: organized 1869 in the Presbyterian church's basement (founding members included B.J. Devor and wife, Philip Smith and wife, J.C. Lockard and wife, and Mrs. Nancy Faust and daughters), its brick building on Shirley Street was dedicated January 7, 1872 by Rev. J.W. Weaver (Africa 1883, PDF scan p. 446). Africa's 1883 book also gives the Methodist Episcopal congregation's own earlier building history: first sermon preached 1838 by Rev. Jacob Gruber in the old stone school-house, society of “thirty or more” formed 1842 with Samuel Shaver as class-leader, first house of worship 1850, present-era (1873) brick edifice costing nearly $11,000, with 121 members and 25 probationers by 1882 (Africa 1883, PDF scan p. 447).

None of today's civic organizations above trace directly to a specific lodge in Welch's 1909-1910 book — the Kiwanis Club (founded nationally 1915) and American Legion (founded 1919) simply postdate it. But the town had a lively fraternal scene even then: the Odd Fellows (Mount Union Lodge No. 677, organized 1869, ~100 members by 1909), the Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War veterans, organized 1882), the Patriotic Order Sons of America, the Maccabees, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Sons of Veterans, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle all met regularly (Welch 1909-1910, printed pp. 328–334). Most have no obvious modern successor in town.

This directory is built from public listings and phone books — some entries (a few churches, exact hours) are incomplete on purpose rather than guessed at. If you own, work at, or belong to any of these — or know one that's missing — send the details and it'll be corrected or added. The goal is a directory the whole town can rely on.