| The Amish of North America are a diverse group. As | | | | has found objectionable. |
| an Ohio Amishman recently put it, "the typical English | | | | Swiss Amish |
| (Amish term for non-Amish person) fellow looks at | | | | The Swiss are an interesting group for a number of |
| one of us and just sees an Amishman. In reality there | | | | reasons. Swiss are largely found in a few Indiana |
| is a lot of difference." | | | | settlements--Adams and Allen Counties near Fort |
| The Old Order | | | | Wayne, as well as in Daviess County in the southern |
| The most 'mainstream' group is known as the Old | | | | part of the state. Amish in these communities speak a |
| Order Amish. The Old Order is found throughout North | | | | somewhat different Swiss-influenced dialect, which |
| America, in approximately two dozen states, as well | | | | Amish in other settlements can find amusing to listen |
| as Ontario. Large Old Order settlements are found in | | | | to. In Adams and Allen Counties, only open-top |
| Holmes and Wayne Counties of Ohio, Lancaster | | | | carriages are allowed, which can make traveling in |
| County in Pennsylvania, LaGrange and Elkhart | | | | inclement weather a bit tricky. The Swiss would |
| Counties in Indiana, and Geauga County in Ohio. These | | | | generally be considered part of the Old Order, 'Swiss' |
| four settlements rank as the largest in the country. | | | | referring more to their place of origin and differing |
| Old Orders use the horse and buggy, though styles | | | | cultural practice. |
| can vary. The gray carriage is found largely in | | | | Ultraconservatives |
| Lancaster County and its daughter settlements. The | | | | There are a number of ultraconservative groups in the |
| black 'Ohio' and 'Indiana' styles are popular in most | | | | Amish world. Perhaps the most conspicuous are the |
| other communities. | | | | Swartzentruber Amish and related subgroups such as |
| There is a wide variety of practice within the Old | | | | the Troyer Amish. |
| Order itself--the Amish religion is very congregational, in | | | | Swartzentrubers and their kin are primitive in |
| the sense that outside of a few key tenets of belief, | | | | appearance--typically living in homes with fairly |
| cultural practice may differ to a significant degree. In | | | | unkempt yards, dirt lanes, and tin roofs. |
| the Lagrange settlement of northern Indiana, for | | | | Swartzentrubers use outside toilets and do not have |
| example, which consists of over 120 Amish | | | | hot water in the home. As a result they may bathe |
| congregations, Amish on the western side are | | | | rather infrequently compared to other Amish. |
| generally considered more progressive than on the | | | | Swartzentrubers tend to stick to farming more than |
| eastern side of the settlement. This is reflected in | | | | most other Amish groups, which have steadily moved |
| certain practices--for example, gasoline engine | | | | off the farm and into other occupations, such as home |
| mowers are allowed in some churches, while others | | | | businesses, especially furniture making, as well as |
| require members to use push-mowers. Children in | | | | construction work and factory employment. |
| some homes in more progressive congregations were | | | | Nebraska Amish, mainly found in the Big Valley area of |
| recently even seen with hand-held video game players. | | | | Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, also lean to the |
| The New Order | | | | conservative end of the Amish spectrum. Nebraska |
| The so-called 'New Order' emerged in the 60's and | | | | Amish are unique in using the white-topped buggy. |
| 70's as a response to a desire for change regarding | | | | Clothing differs as well--Nebraskans forgo suspenders |
| certain practices within the Old Order. Specifically, New | | | | on men and bonnets on women. Nebraskan men |
| Orders became open to the idea of a more | | | | dress in tones of brown and gray. Men also wear their |
| personalized faith experience, and were desirous of | | | | hair longer than other Amish. |
| youth study of the Bible, elements that were largely | | | | Other highly conservative groups can be found in |
| absent in traditional Old Order practice. New Order | | | | settlements in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and other |
| Amish also came out strongly against two cultural | | | | areas. |
| practices seen among the Old Order: tobacco use, | | | | Beachy Amish |
| and bed courtship, also known as bundling. | | | | The history of the Amish in America has been marked |
| Today, New and Old Orders enjoy a friendly | | | | by a number of divisions. Early in the 20th century a |
| coexistence in large settlements such as Holmes | | | | group of Amish separated from the main body and |
| County. New Orders use the horse-and-buggy and | | | | adopted a number of modern practices, such as the |
| dress in a plain fashion. They tend to be more | | | | use of cars, public power, and meetinghouses for |
| progressive regarding technology: some allow | | | | church service. This group became known as the |
| telephones in the home, take advantage of public | | | | Beachy Amish, and while retaining a number of Old |
| electricity, and are generally more liberal on tractor use. | | | | Order practices and beliefs, are sometimes considered |
| However, one New Order Amishman explained that | | | | closer to Mennonite groups. |
| the two groups in Holmes County are in a sense | | | | This is just the tip of the iceberg concerning the wide |
| closer to each other than they once were, perhaps | | | | variety of practice within Amish America. |
| reflecting a decline in cultural practices the New Order | | | | |