Author: Erik Wesner

Erik Wesner is the creator of amishamerica.com, and author of Success Made Simple: An Inside Look At Why Amish Businesses Thrive. Erik began visiting Amish communities in 2004 – eventually meeting thousands of Amish families while selling books.

He began writing about the Amish on this website in 2006, and is often cited in national media, including USA Today, The New York Times, and others on a wide range of Amish topics. A native of North Carolina, Erik has visited dozens of Amish communities across the country, and loves spending time with Amish friends and discovering new Amish places.

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Two Amish Hospitalized After Wreck; Driver “Taken Into Police Custody”; Horse Runs Off (UPDATED)

Two Amish Hospitalized After Wreck; Driver “Taken Into Police Custody”; Horse Runs Off (UPDATED)

Details are scarce at the moment in this story out of Centre County, Pennsylvania (see update below). But we do know that two Amish people have been taken to the hospital – and one non-Amish driver into police custody – following another buggy crash. Yesterday at around 8:30 PM, an Amish buggy carrying two passengers was struck by a motor vehicle. More from WJAC: CENTRE…

Florida Amish Country: Yoder’s Makes 6,000 Pies For Turkey Day

Florida Amish Country: Yoder’s Makes 6,000 Pies For Turkey Day

Here’s a fun little pre-Thanksgiving story that I just now came across, from Florida’s “Amish Country”, also known as the Sarasota-area Pinecraft community. If you’ve been to that community, you probably are aware of the Amish-style eateries in the area. One of the best-known is Yoder’s, who get a lot of praise for their delicious pies (here’s a slice of peanut butter chocolate pie from…

Amish Mother Forced To Deliver Baby Two Months Early After Hit & Run; Suspected Driver Identified, But Still Not Arrested

Amish Mother Forced To Deliver Baby Two Months Early After Hit & Run; Suspected Driver Identified, But Still Not Arrested

The father of an Amish woman, badly injured in a hit-and-run crash along with her two small children, has written a letter to a local news station providing more details on the condition of his daughter and grandchildren. Martha Wagler, age 27, was in a buggy in her community in Williams County, Ohio, on November 12, when the buggy was struck from behind by a…

Inside A “Charming Farmstead” Amish Home (17 Photos)

Inside A “Charming Farmstead” Amish Home (17 Photos)

Some lovely photos, taken on a crisp autumn day, of an Amish “farmstead” home in Lucas County, Iowa. These look to be fresh photos, as this place has only been listed for a couple of weeks. The county is home to two Amish communities; this one is in the area of Chariton. Some beautiful aerial shots show the property and surrounding landscape. This location is…

Amish Home Burns Down In Fire Caused By “Unattended Cooking”

Amish Home Burns Down In Fire Caused By “Unattended Cooking”

This comes to us from the Amish community in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, home to a sizeable Amish population. Fortunately, no one was hurt in a fire this morning which – by looking at the photos here – essentially destroyed an Amish family’s home. The report from WGAL fills in some details: Crews were called to the scene of a house fire in Dauphin County around…

Buggy Hit & Run Suspect IDENTIFIED – Two Weeks After Amish Woman & Children Badly Hurt In Wreck

Buggy Hit & Run Suspect IDENTIFIED – Two Weeks After Amish Woman & Children Badly Hurt In Wreck

Great work: It looks like the driver of a truck which (allegedly) hit an Amish buggy, seriously injuring a woman and two children – then fled – is coming closer to facing charges for the crime. Martha Wagler, a 27-year-old Amish woman, was traveling in a buggy along with two children in the early evening of November 12, in Williams County, Ohio. That’s when her…

A Friend Remembers A “Most Unusual” Amish Man

A Friend Remembers A “Most Unusual” Amish Man

I never met David Luthy, who passed away last month, though have written about how his writings were of much value to me in my earlier days of learning about the Amish. Luthy and I did exchange letters once, years ago. I had written to him, wanting to interview him for this website. I was interested in his knowledge, but also in what I’d heard…

An Amish Thanksgiving (Part 3): Thankful Hands

An Amish Thanksgiving (Part 3): Thankful Hands

This is the final part of a three-part Thanksgiving series exploring how the Amish express gratitude—not through words, but through action. Author and Amish taxi driver Haley Straw shares a story which revealed to her how her Amish friends understand – and demonstrate – gratitude. And if you missed it, check out part 1 (“How The Amish Say Thank You”) here and part 2 (“The…

Jeep Smashes Into Amish Buggy In The Middle Of Town – Then Flees

Jeep Smashes Into Amish Buggy In The Middle Of Town – Then Flees

Yet another hit-and-run on an Amish buggy. This one comes to us from Fort Fairfield, Maine and happened yesterday evening. The buggy was hit by the driver of a Jeep Wrangler – sending the buggy plowing into a pickup truck. More from Bangor Daily News: An Amish buggy was rear-ended in a hit-and-run crash Wednesday evening in Fort Fairfield. Mahlon Swartzentruber, 33, of Fort Fairfield…

Amish Lake Deaths: Ruth Miller Deemed Mentally Competent To Stand Trial In Death Of 4-Year-Old Son; Trial Date Now Set

Amish Lake Deaths: Ruth Miller Deemed Mentally Competent To Stand Trial In Death Of 4-Year-Old Son; Trial Date Now Set

A judge has found Ruth Miller, 40, mentally competent to stand trial, following a psychologist’s assessment of the Amish mother. And a trial date has now been set. Miller was charged with aggravated murder for the death of her four-year-old son Vincen, among other charges relating to Vincen and her other, teenaged children, following a series of bizarre incidents at a recreational lake in Tuscarawas…