Amish Origins
The Amish originated from the Anabaptist movement of the early
1500s in Switzerland. Jacob Amman, who believed in conserving
traditions and separation from the world more than the other Anabaptist,
led a split from the Swiss “Mennonite” Brethren in 1693.
Since the early 1700s when they first arrived in Pennsylvania as
part of William Penn’s “Holy Experiment,” the Amish have been living a
simple lifestyle in accordance with their religious beliefs.
There are approximately 220,000 Amish in North America. The
largest group is in Holmes County, Ohio, with significant populations in
Pennsylvania, northern Indiana and Iowa. Others are located in the
eastern and mid-western states and Ontario, Canada.
The Amish of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, are perhaps the best known
because of the many tourists who visit the area and the movie, Witness,
which was filmed there.
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Amish Agriculture
The Amish are primarily farmers. Some, however, are carpenters and
cabinet makers, blacksmiths, buggy and |
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harness makers, all geared toward
supporting the Amish lifestyle. Because farmland is expensive, and
becoming increasingly scarce, some younger members have taken jobs in
nearby factories and restaurants. Others work in general stores that
provide the Amish community with goods necessary to their lifestyle that
they cannot produce themselves.
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In reality, the Amish lifestyle is very much like that of the
Englisher ancestors of a century or so ago.
Their neat Amish farms, without electric and telephone lines, look
very much like those of the Englishers around them. The houses are
comfortable structures with numerous rooms to support typically large
families.
Many of their conveniences were used in America’s 19th Century or
earlier houses. Wood or coal fueled stoves provide heat. Cooking
stoves are powered by propane, kerosene or wood. Kerosene or clear gas
lamps provide light.
A distinctive feature of America’s Amish
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country is the windmill,
used to pump water for house or farm use. While some also use gasoline
engines to operate pumps with pressure tanks to provide running water
for bathrooms and kitchen sinks, the old fashioned hand pump is still
used in many houses.
Some use kerosene-fired water heaters. Others run a system of pipes
through the kitchen stove (fired with wood, kerosene or propane) to
obtain hot water for kitchen or bathroom use.
Those lucky enough to have natural gas on their property will use it to heat their house, provide hot water, fuel their refrigerator and
provide light at night.
Colorful flowers brighten the ever present "kitchen gardens".
Quilts decorate bedrooms while calendars with scenic pictures, meeting
the requirement of utility, cover many of the walls of their houses.
The Amish people do not pose for pictures because they believe that
photographs violate the biblical teaching against making graven images
(Exodus 20:4). Also, they are concerned that pictures will promote
self-pride. They may put their hands or hats over their faces, look
away or take evasive action to avoid having their picture taken.
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