Swartzentruber Amish

Q&A with Professor Karen Johnson-Weiner: Part Two

ByErik Wesner
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In the previous post, SUNY Potsdam Professor Karen Johnson-Weiner answered questions on Amish settlements in New York state.  Today she shares her knowledge of the Swartzentruber Amish. Amish America:  Could you explain who exactly the term ‘Swartzentruber’ refers to?  In what ways do the Swartzentruber Amish differ from ‘mainstream’ Amish? Professor Karen Johnson-Weiner:  The Swartzentruber Amish, arguably the plainest of the “Plain People,” originated in…

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Notes from an Ohio Amish funeral

Byerik
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I attended the funeral of an Old Order Amish man while in the Holmes County settlement over the weekend.  A few observations: Around 200 attendees, mostly Amish, with all four major affiliations represented:  Old Order, New Order, Andy Weaver (aka ‘Dan church’) and Swartzentruber. There were only a handful of non-Amish present–mainly consisting of a few plain Mennonites. The Amish funeral takes place in the…

The Amish of Orange County, Indiana

The Amish of Orange County, Indiana

ByErik Wesner
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As of 2024, there are two Amish communities in Orange County, Indiana – both a similar size (500+Amish people). Let’s have a look at a few more of Cindy Seigle’s Orange County, Indiana Amish photos with a few of my own comments attached. Again, we aren’t 100% sure which of the two Orange County groups each particular picture is from, but there are similarities between…

Orange County, Indiana Amish (11 Photos)

Orange County, Indiana Amish (11 Photos)

ByErik Wesner
16 Comments

Cindy Seigle (you can find Cindy on Flickr) has shared some interesting photos of a conservative Amish settlement in southern Indiana. In An Amish Patchwork, Meyers and Nolt explain that Orange County is home to two distinct Amish communities. The newer of the two groups is comprised of ultraconservative Swartzentruber-affiliated Amish from New York and Ohio who began settling in the area in 1994. The older…

The Amish Dairy

Byerik
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Some Amish dairymen still use the old-style milk containers to transport their milk, as seen in this photo taken in Swartzentruber Amish country in Ohio. Lancaster Amish are allowed to use mechanical milkers, which has helped to allow that particular community to retain a relatively high percentage of functioning dairies.  Amish barns will have a special tank to store the milk, and to cool and…

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Buggy-friendly America

Byerik
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Across America in places where the Amish have set up shop, local businesses and government authorities have had to adapt some practices to accommodate the preferred Amish transportation. Traffic Jam off County Road 77 in Holmes County, Ohio Sometimes an Amish group showing up in an area can lead to disputes with locals over horse mess or hoof damage on roads.  The smarter businesses, or…

An Amish Sheep Shearer’s Journey down the Holmes County Trail

An Amish Sheep Shearer’s Journey down the Holmes County Trail

ByErik Wesner
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Holmes County locals had a really nice idea a few years ago – to convert an old train bed into a multi-purpose pedestrian and horse trail. The Holmes County Trail was the result. The paved part actually stretches from Wayne County – Fredericksburg -around ten miles down to Millersburg, the Holmes County seat. It continues on in both directions unpaved. Motorized vehicular traffic is banned….

Ohio’s “Nebraska” Amish (Andover, OH)

Ohio’s “Nebraska” Amish (Andover, OH)

ByErik Wesner
8 Comments

Many people have seen photos of the fairly well-known ‘white-top buggy’ Amish.  This group is based mainly in Pennsylvania’s diverse Big Valley region. They are most commonly known as the Nebraska Amish, named after a Nebraska-based bishop who helped the group get started in the late 1800s. Traditionally considered one of the most conservative Amish groups, they have also been called the “Old School Amish”….

Swartzentruber Amish Homes in Holmes County, Ohio

Swartzentruber Amish Homes in Holmes County, Ohio

ByErik Wesner
8 Comments

The homes of the Swartzentruber Amish and similar groups tend to be among the plainest.  Metal roofs and dirt lanes are characteristic. Usually Swartzentruber yards are a bit scrabbly-looking compared to the typical meticulously-cared-for Old Order front lawn.  This may reflect a difference in concern for the material world. While many Old Order Amish will work out on construction crews and in factories, Swartzentrubers tend…

Amish follicle facts

Byerik
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photo:  Randall Persing Amish women let their hair grow from birth. If you ever catch an Amish female with her hair down, the sheer length of it can be surprising. In fact, with locks often reaching well past waist-length, the typical Amish head-covering seems to somehow bend the laws of physics.  Where is their room for it all up there? A quick diversion: A follicle…