Following our look at the 12 Southern states with Amish communities, today we look to the traditionally least-populated-by-Amish region, the West. As Steven Nolt describes in A History of the Amish, Amish arrived in America in two main waves, first settling primarily in Pennsylvania, and later in the Midwest. Over their history on multiple occasions Amish have felt the pull of the West…but for various…
The 12th annual Borntrager’s Consignment Auction is happening next month in Beeville, Texas, site of the state’s lone Amish community. Reader Bob passes along the auction bill for the upcoming sale (below). Several things caught my attention: 1. Homemade ice cream – With an average November temperature in Beeville not far off 80 degrees, ice cream is most definitely still on the bill. 2. Animals for…
Today we have a winner of A Midwife in Amish Country – in fact, we have two winners, as author Kim Osterholzer has kindly offered a second signed copy for the giveaway contest. Kim also wanted to answer some more of your questions about being a midwife – so we’ve got about 10 more below (see part 1 of her answers here). You’ll find the…
Did you know that the South has more states with an Amish population than any other region? First, there’s the question of what defines a region. The South of today is a vast, diverse place. But I think it’s safe to say some states seem more traditionally “southern” than others. For instance, is South Carolina more southern than, say, Maryland? Other states sort of fit…
This is a photo which we saw on a previous post. Notice anything unusual about this otherwise-standard Maytag wringer washer, common in Amish homes? I wonder if anyone caught it when we shared it before. If you’re still scratching your head, Don Burke explains what’s going on here below. Today Don gives us one last look at the home of Mary Graber of the Jamesport,…
If measuring by sheer numbers of Amish, Branch County, Michigan is well behind Lagrange County, Indiana just to the southwest. Yet in another way Branch County is quite the “Amish County” – home to 5 separate Amish settlements, some of whom are very plain. The oldest, lying in California Township, has been around nearly six decades. So this is a community where non-Amish people have long…
How about a glimpse of Amish life through the eyes of someone living it every day? There are currently at least three Amish women writing columns published in newspapers across the nation. They are: Gloria Yoder Lovina Eicher Millie Otto These three columns follow a similar model, with reports from daily life running an Amish household, being a mother, and handling all the tasks and…
Will Amish vote in 2018? You might recall the Amish PAC which was created in 2016 to promote voting among Amish in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Lancaster Online reports that the Amish PAC has returned in 2018 to promote Amish getting to the polls for the midterm elections in November: Two years after it aimed to “unlock the Amish vote” for Donald Trump, the Washington-based Amish…
Do Amish parents have celebrations for new babies? Who is present at the birth? What does it take to be a good midwife? What if you get to the birth late? Do Amish have children out of wedlock? Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for A Midwife in Amish Country author Kim Osterholzer. I chose a selection of these which Kim has answered, plus a…
Tomorrow, September 18th, is the North Missouri Produce Auction’s special Mum and Pumpkin Auction. We had a look at the usual goings-on at this auction last month with photos by Don Burke. The mum and pumpkin edition happens once a year and by its name you can guess what’s sold there. Today we have a gander at what you might see if you’re in Jamesport,…