Mount Union borough

Who Named Mount Union

Who named Mount Union, and when? The town's own histories can't quite agree.

Welch's 1909 book says Col. William Pollock gave the name, in consequence of the union of mountains at this point. A footnote adds that good authority also claims John Dougherty named it.

The founding date is no tidier. Lytle's 1876 county history says Mount Union was laid out in 1850 by Gen. George W. Speer and John Dougherty. The 1937 sesquicentennial book says William Pollock laid it out in 1840 for John Sharrer. Our September 1 post already gave you 1840 and 1849 from two other records. Now you have 1850 as well.

On one point the old books stand together: the name means exactly what it says. Lytle names the mountains in the union: Jack's and Stone mountains on the west, Chestnut ridge and Jack's mountain on the east.

And one number worth a smile: the county's 1937 history records that the first postmaster earned $6.59 for a full year's service.

If your family holds deeds, letters or records from when Mount Union was laid out, we would love to see them.

What the fact check confirmed. Published without a source list. Every claim in it has now been read against the books it names and all of them hold, in the wording the post gives them: Welch 1909 for Pollock and for the "good authority" footnote naming John Dougherty, Lytle 1876 for the 1850 laying-out and for the four mountains, and the 1937 sesquicentennial book for both the 1840 date and the postmaster's $6.59. One thing the check added: the 1937 book itself says Pollock was appointed postmaster on 1 April 1833, seven years before the same book says the town was laid out, so even that single source does not settle it. Checked 1 September 2026.

Sources

Charles Howard Welch, History of Mount Union, Shirleysburg and Shirley Township (Mount Union Times Office, 1909-1910), pp. 124-126: Col. William Pollock, the first postmaster, gave the name "in consequence of the union of mountains at this point". The footnote on that page adds that "it is claimed by good authority also that John Dougherty named Mount Union", and credits the narrative to Hon. Simpson Africa's History.
Milton Scott Lytle, History of Huntingdon County (1876), Mount Union: "Mount Union was laid out in 1850, by Gen. George W. Speer and John Dougherty", and the name "derived ... from a union of Jack's and Stone mountains on the west, and Chestnut ridge and Jack's mountain on the east".
Sesqui 1937, Mount Union entry (laid out 1840 by William Pollock for John Sharrer)
Sesqui 1937, post offices section: Pollock appointed first postmaster of Mount Union on 1 April 1833 and paid $6.59 for a full year's service. Cited to confirm; still in copyright, so not quoted at length here.

Checked 2026-09-18 · Historic Mount Union collection

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