Boone County Mennonite Brethren Church, one mile from Raeville, Nebraska, was founded in 1879 by 15 families who had come that year from Russia. Later, when the town of Petersburg was founded within an eighth of a mile of the church, the postal address became Petersburg. The leader during the first three years was J. J. Regier. The membership rose to 50, but fear of intermarriage with Roman Catholics who settled among the Mennonites broke up the church. The church building was sold in 1897 and two years later most of the families had moved to Henderson or Jansen, Nebraska.       

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 389. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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