Presbyterian Mission Bellevue

The Prebuterian Mission in Bellevue is the oldest standing church in Nebraska.  The Baptist Mission preceded it, but it later burned down.  Reverend Edward McKinney established the Presbyterian congregation in 1850.  In 1853 Reverend Williams became the pastor, and in 1856 this church was built.  It has been replaced as the primary Presbyterian church but is still used for special occasions such as weddings.  In 1908 the steeple was blown off by a tornado.  It was replaced by a shorter steeple, and that too was replaced to get back to the original height.  When Nebraska first became a territory in 1854 the territorial governor, Franklin Burt, came to Bellevue and stayed at the mission.  He had become sick on the journey from his home in South Carolina.  He died just two days after taking office in the mission home.