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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Vaccines, Natural Remedies, Trust In God: 5 Lancaster Amish Parents On The Measles Outbreak

Vaccines, Natural Remedies, Trust In God: 5 Lancaster Amish Parents On The Measles Outbreak

ByErik Wesner

Adding another layer to the ongoing measles story, Amish parents in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania have spoken to local station CBS 21 about their families’ vaccination decisions. Unsurprisingly, they don’t all agree on how to approach the outbreak, and vaccination in general. Grace Miller knocked on doors and spoke with about 10 Amish residents in the heart of the community (Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse areas). About half…

New From Ben & Rose: “Simple Love”

New From Ben & Rose: “Simple Love”

ByErik Wesner

Ben & Rose are out with a new song, called “Simple Love”. It’s their first studio release since “How Great Thou Art” at the end of July. It’s one of the more contemporary covers they’ve done – a song written by Sarah Siskind and made popular by Alison Krauss. They have done at least one other song popularized by Krauss (“When You Say Nothing At…

This Tennessee Amish Home Packs A Lot Into Just 768 Square Feet (31 Photos)

This Tennessee Amish Home Packs A Lot Into Just 768 Square Feet (31 Photos)

ByErik Wesner
6 Comments

I’ll start by saying that I love this week’s home. Now, I’m not saying I’d love to live there (let’s just say it’s “very Amish”). But as far as visual appeal of an Amish property goes, this is one of my favorites we’ve seen. Why? One reason is clear without even looking too close at the details: its vibrant color. Reds, blues, purples, set off against warm browns…

Amish Family Of 6 Hospitalized When Jeep Rear-Ends Buggy At “Highway Speed” (Kansas)

Amish Family Of 6 Hospitalized When Jeep Rear-Ends Buggy At “Highway Speed” (Kansas)

ByErik Wesner

A mother was airlifted with traumatic injuries and five other members of her family were taken to hospitals after a Jeep SUV struck their horse-drawn buggy Saturday in Coffey County, Kansas. Here is the account from the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office, via KAKE: The Coffey County Sheriff’s Office reports that around 5:35 p.m. on Fauna Road, a Jeep SUV pulled up behind a horse-drawn buggy…

This Amish Store Burned To The Ground In April. Just 51 Days Later, It Was Back In Business

This Amish Store Burned To The Ground In April. Just 51 Days Later, It Was Back In Business

ByErik Wesner
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The Amish-owned Rustic Ridge Variety Store burned to the ground back in April in a community in Lewis County, Missouri. While it’s hardly a surprise when an Amish community quickly gets on the job of cleaning up and rebuilding, this one seemed ahead of even a typical schedule. Less than a week later came news that the new store had already been framed and was…

“Sneezing Fit” Blamed For Crash That Kills 1 Amish Woman, Seriously Injures 4 Others

“Sneezing Fit” Blamed For Crash That Kills 1 Amish Woman, Seriously Injures 4 Others

ByErik Wesner
1 Comment

An everyday bodily function is being blamed for a crash which has claimed the life of a 37-year-old Amish woman in Monroe County, Wisconsin. Here’s what happened, via WMTV: MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – One person has died and five others were injured after a driver’s “sneezing fit” caused her to crash into an Amish buggy last week, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. The…

Rear-End Crash Flips Amish Buggy — Fire Chief Says Horse Breaking Loose Likely Saved Baby

Rear-End Crash Flips Amish Buggy — Fire Chief Says Horse Breaking Loose Likely Saved Baby

ByErik Wesner
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An Amish family of seven suffered injuries, some of them serious, when a driver rear-ended their buggy Sunday night in Coal County, Oklahoma. The crash was dramatic – and the aftermath was as well. A trapped baby fortunately survived – but it very well could have ended up differently, according to the fire chief. Here’s more via the Ada News: Williams said it appeared a…

After The Bible, This Is One Of The Most Important Books In Amish Homes. It’s Getting A New Translation

After The Bible, This Is One Of The Most Important Books In Amish Homes. It’s Getting A New Translation

ByErik Wesner
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Martyrs Mirror, a massive tome telling the stories of 16th-century Anabaptist martyrs, along with earlier Christian ones, is one of the most important books in Amish homes. Now it’s getting a new translation – this time straight from the 1685 Dutch, replacing English that dates to 1886. Hat tip to Al in KY who brought this story in Anabaptist World to my attention. In it,…

Ben & Rose Perform “On Heaven’s Bright Shore” Live With Conrad Fisher

Ben & Rose Perform “On Heaven’s Bright Shore” Live With Conrad Fisher

ByErik Wesner

Ben & Rose have put out a live version of the first song they released this year – “On Heaven’s Bright Shore”. It’s a simple song where Rose’s vocals really have space to shine. Ben and producer Conrad Fisher add nice backing vocals and understated guitar. This was recorded in front of an audience at Ragamuffin Hall. As far as I can tell, this is…

Measles Reported Among Amish In 3 New York Counties, Says Public Health Director

Measles Reported Among Amish In 3 New York Counties, Says Public Health Director

ByErik Wesner
7 Comments

In last week’s post on the measles situation, I noted how there has been a lot of coverage dancing around the idea that Amish communities are undergoing measles outbreaks — but with little-to-no direct confirmation that measles was present in Amish communities. This was not really the fault of the news outlets reporting on the matter. In a number of cases, local officials understandably declined…