Jacob Ahgosa, Elder and grandson of the first Chief Ahgosa, and Reverend Plymate deliver the service one Sunday morning. Usually, the townspeople sat on the east side and the Native Americans,
and a few local residents sat on the west side so Jacob Ahgosa could translate the service for the Native Americans assembled.
Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for our Native American neighbors who have shared our long history in this wonderful place. In 1867 the Presbyterian board of Foreign Missions ceased its financial support for the Omena church, Rev. Dougherty sold the mission buildings, retired from the missionary field, and departed from the area.
The Omena Presbyterian Church was old and in disrepair and there was no minister. It was kept alive by the efforts of George Craker and David Ahgosa, Chief Ahgosa’ s son, who continued the Bible study Rev. Dougherty had begun. “These men went on for more than forty years,” said Betty Craker Armstrong, a great granddaughter of George Craker. “They grew old, and they died. And then their sons took over and they went on for another forty years.” They, and the village, carried on.
Chief Ahgosa’ s gravestone behind the Omena Presbyterian Church. Photo credit Weengush Odeimin
Chief Ahgosa colorized for Weengush Odeimin. Original image from Omena Historical Association collection.