Andy Weaver Amish facts for kids
The Andy Weaver Amish are a special group of Old Order Amish. People sometimes call them "Dan Church," "Dan Amish," or "Danners." They are known for being more traditional than many other Old Order Amish groups. They speak Pennsylvania German at home and use English when talking to people outside their community.
Even though they are part of the Old Order Amish family, they usually do not marry or spend time with other Old Order Amish groups who are less traditional.
It is important to know that a different group of Swartzentruber Amish is also sometimes called "Andy Weaver."
Contents
How the Andy Weaver Amish Began
The Andy Weaver Amish group started in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1952. They formed because of disagreements about a practice called "shunning." Shunning is when community members avoid someone who has broken important rules.
The group was named after Andrew J. Weaver. He was a respected minister who wanted to keep the Amish way of life strong. He was against "drift," which means moving too much towards modern society.
Their Way of Life and Technology
The Andy Weaver Amish are very traditional, but they are not as strict as the Swartzentruber Amish. However, they are more traditional than most other Old Order Amish groups.
Rules for Homes and Businesses
They have stricter rules about using technology on their farms, in their businesses, and in their homes. For example, they might use fewer modern machines than other Amish groups.
Community Rules
They also have a very strict way of practicing shunning. This means they follow the rules about avoiding members who have left the church or broken serious rules very closely. They also have strict rules for their young people.
| Affiliation | Tractor for fieldwork | Roto- tiller | Power lawn mower | Propane gas | Bulk milk tank | Mechanical milker | Mechanical refrigerator | Pickup balers | Inside flush toilet | Running water bath tub | Tractor for belt power | Pneumatic tools | Chain saw | Pressurized lamps | Motorized washing machines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of use by all Amish |
6 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 35 | 40 | 50 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 75 | 90 | 97 |
| Swartzentruber | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Some | No | No | Yes |
| Swiss (Adams) | No | No | Some | No | No | No | No | No | Some | No | No | Some | Some | Some | Some |
| Buchanan/Medford | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Some | No | Yes | Yes |
| Danner | No | No | No | Some | No | No | Some | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Geauga I | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Some | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Holmes Old Order | No | Some | Some | No* | No | No | Some | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Elkhart-LaGrange | No | Some | Some | Some | Some | Some | Some | Some | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lancaster | No | No | Some | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nappanee, Indiana | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kalona | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
* Natural gas allowed
Where They Live and Their Numbers
Most of the Andy Weaver Amish live in Holmes County, Ohio. In 2009, they had 30 church districts there. A church district is like a local church group.
Other Settlements
They also have three other communities. One is in Ashland County, Ohio, and another is in upstate New York. In 2011, there were 40 church districts in total across all their communities.
Keeping Their Young People
The Andy Weaver Amish are very good at keeping their children in the church. About 97% of their children stay within the community as adults. This is one of the highest rates among all Amish groups.
Jobs and Farming
Even though many Amish are farmers, only about 6% of Andy Weaver Amish work in farming. This is a smaller number compared to other Amish groups. Many of them work in other types of businesses or trades.
See Also
