The first meeting house for the newly formed Church was a schoolhouse which was located 2 miles north and 1½ miles east of Hickman.  It was known as the Lone Star School,  District #97.  This building was built on March 10, 1877.

On August 27, 1878, the first elected ruling Elders were:  Jacob Kuster, Conrad Brunke, and Henry Schwetger.  Fritz Wissel and Henry Meyer were elected deacons.  Fred Wissel, Henry Meyer, and August Kuster were elected trustees.  Henry Schwetger was elected clerk.

Rev. John Berk, who was already known to most of the members, since he had preached the gospel to them for 12½ years in Rockville, Wisconsin, was called as their first Pastor.

The following are pictures of some of the early Church leaders:

The membership continued to grow, especially from people from Missouri and Illinois, and with the reception of our youth.   “The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.” In March of the year 1889, it was voted to build an addition with the dimensions of 20 by 24 feet and a tower 10 by 10 feet serving as a vestibule for the “L” shaped Church.  The total cost for these improvements, as reported by the Building  Committee amounted to $1,062.50 which had been secured.  The bell was purchased for the tower, of which Rev. Conrad Heckman gave the most money.  This bell was rung each Sunday morning and for funerals by pulling on a long thick rope.  This same bell is now in our bell tower and still rung each Sunday morning.   The pulpit was at the north east corner of the sanctuary and the pews ran diagonally.   Following an old German custom the men sat on one side and the women sat on the other side.  They also used a common communion cup.  The heating stove was towards the back in the original Church part.

Rev Berk served the Church until his death. He is buried in the Hickman Cemetery.  The tombstone that marks Rev. John Berk’s grave has an open Bible on top with the following scripture written in German: Colossians 3:2 “Reach for the One from above”.  (This could have been paraphrased to fit the stone.)

Rev. Lucas Abels served our Church for 16 years.  He was called home from his field of labor after an illness of several months on September 12, 1915.  Rev. Abels in buried in the Hickman Cemetery.

Our third pastor was the Rev. Julius F. Schwarz.  Rev. Schwarz of Omaha, Nebraska was the Synodical District Superintendent of Home Missions of the Synod of Nebraska, when he accepted the call to become our Pastor.  He was elected February 27, 1916, took charge May 1, 1916, and on August 27, 1916, the date of the organization of the Church, was installed. 

When Rev. Schwarz began his ministry in Hickman, the membership was 187.  The membership roll was now at a point where it became necessary to build on to the Church.  A Congregational Meeting was called and held on March 21, 1916, at which it voted that an addition of 24 by 36 feet with a basement be built on the north side of the Church.  A projection of 12 by 18 feet was built on the north side for a pulpit and choir loft.  With this addition, the pews in the sanctuary were now arranged in three rows facing north with two aisles.  It was also voted at this Congregational Meeting to dispose of the old manse and to build a new and modernly equipped manse on the same site.  The old manse was moved to the west side of Hickman. On December 31, 1916, the remodeled Church and new manse were dedicated and it was reported that all obligations in erecting the two buildings including new furniture had been met leaving the Church free from debt.

Our fifth Pastor, Rev. Jerry H. Thaden was called on March 3, 1935. The membership of our Church was 316 at the beginning of 1935.  Rev. Thaden preached his first sermon as our pastor on April 28, 1935.  Rev. Thaden was officially installed as our Pastor on June 16, 1935.

Our second pastor was the Rev. Lucas Abels.  On November 1, 1899, Rev. Abels was called to take charge of the Church as stated supply.  Rev. Lucas Abels accepted the call and preached his first sermon on his 48^th birthday, December 17, 1899.  On September 8, 1900, the congregation voted to elect Rev. Lucas Abels as their Pastor.  This unanimous call was accepted and the new pastor was duly installed.  The membership of the Church was 120; with an attendance at Sunday School (called Sabbath School) of 145.

The Church was always decorated for the Christmas season.  Red paper balls, silver stars, popcorn strings were used.  There was always a Christmas tree with ornaments and wax candles placed in holders on the tree.  These candles were lighted for the Christmas program.  A bucket of water with a mop was placed near the tree for safety precautions.  Each Sunday School class practiced many Saturday afternoons to perfect their part in the program.  After the Christmas Eve Services helpers came down the aisle with bushel baskets full of paper sacks filled with candy, nuts, and either an apple or an orange.  

Rural families came to Church in horse drawn buggies, carriages, or sleighs.  After the horses were tied to the hitching post, each was covered with a horse blanket.  On a clear cold night or day the rhythm of the wheels kept tune to the jingle of the bells on the horses’ harnesses.  These bells on the horses or sleighs were very appropriate for the Christmas season and also served as a warning for on coming teams.

On June 30, 1918, at a Congregational Meeting, a motion was passed that we cooperate with the plans of the State Council of Defense and volunteer to cease in using the German language for preaching and teaching during the war with the Central Powers.  An interpretation of the “Foreign Language Proclamation”, says, “Applied to religious instruction, it is intended that the Sunday School and all other services shall be conducted in English, excepting that for the old people unable to read, write, speak, or understand our language, a special service shall be arranged.”

Rev. Schwarz also wrote a book entitled, “History of the Presbyterian Church in Nebraska”.  He instituted a much improved system of bookkeeping in our Church, the envelope system for giving to the Church was incorporated, and above all he presented the Fundamental Bible Truth in his teaching and preaching.

In 1924, Rev. Schwarz received a call from the Omaha University to take up the work of Financial Secretary.  He accepted the call and entered into that field September 1, 1924.  In 1927, Dr. Schwarz was also named as Vice President at the Omaha University.

Rev. Julius F. Schwarz passed away on October 28, 1928, at his home in Omaha, after an illness of three months due to cancer of the stomach.

On August 19, 1924, the Congregation met for the purpose of choosing the next Pastor, the choice fell on the Rev. Herman G. Blaschke, who was the pastor of the South Side Presbyterian Church of Hastings, Nebraska.  Rev. Blaschke had met with Dr. Schwarz at the Mission Fest of the Presbyterian Church of Campbell, Nebraska in June 1924, and he participated in the Hickman Mission Fest on Sunday, August 17.  These meetings convinced Rev. Blaschke that God’s hand was in this call.  Rev. Blaschke promptly and thankfully accepted and began his ministry in our Church on October 1, 1924.   During the winter of 1925 – 1926 a serious breakdown in his health made it appear as though the service of the fourth Pastor was soon to end.  However, God in His Blessed Mercy blessed the efficient and kind help of good Dr. Stapleton, so after two months of rest Rev. Blaschke was able to take full charge again. 

On March 18, 1928, the Congregation voted to dispense with the monthly German service in the morning and to replace it with an English service, and to transfer the German service to the afternoon of that day.

During 1928, the basement of the church was completed and a new furnace installed.  The basement was dedicated at the Golden Jubilee held on August 26-27, 1928. 

Rev. Herman G. Blaschke closed the 1928 Anniversary Booklet by saying: “As we close this review of “Fifty Years” we think of those who have made their homes elsewhere; we remember those who have gone to be with the Lord and we, who remain, hope by His good pleasure “Safely to arrive at home.”