Swartzentruber Amish facts for kids
The Swartzentruber Amish are a very traditional group of Amish people. They are known for being one of the largest and most conservative (meaning they stick to old ways) Amish groups. Even though they are part of the Old Order Amish, they usually do not mix or marry with other, less strict Old Order Amish groups.
Their main language is Pennsylvania German, which they speak at home. They also speak English when they talk to people outside their community.
Contents
How the Swartzentruber Amish Started
The Swartzentruber Amish group began because of a split among the Amish in Holmes County, Ohio. This happened between 1913 and 1917. A bishop named Sam E. Yoder was involved in this separation. Later, the group was named after another bishop, Samuel Swartzentruber, who took over after Yoder.
In 1932, there was another split among the Swartzentrubers. This led to the creation of the Troyer Amish group in Wayne County, Ohio. In the early 1980s, some church groups in Minnesota, Tennessee, and Ohio separated from the main Swartzentruber group. This was due to disagreements about "shunning" (a practice where people are avoided for breaking rules). This new group is sometimes called the "Jeck Jeckey Leit" and is now connected with the Nebraska Amish.
In the 1990s, the Swartzentruber Amish split two more times. This created three main Swartzentruber groups: the Joe Troyer group, the main group (Mose Miller/Isaac Keim group), and the Andy Weaver group. The Andy Weaver group is the most traditional of these three. The Joe Troyer group is the least traditional, and the Mose Miller group is in the middle.
Their Way of Life and Technology
The Swartzentruber Amish are very strict about using modern technology. They do not allow riding in cars, except for emergencies. Other Old Order Amish groups might allow riding in cars if they don't own them.
They are the most careful about technology among all Amish groups. You can see how they compare to others in the table below.
| 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
Their clothes are usually heavier and plainer, especially for women. Only the Nebraska Amish dress in an even more traditional way. Swartzentruber church services are often longer, sometimes lasting up to four hours.
Like some other Old Order groups, they do not use electricity or indoor plumbing. Many common devices and technologies are also not allowed because they are seen as too "worldly." This includes things like Velcro and bicycles.
Swartzentruber farms and yards often look simple and less cared for. This is because they believe that being too interested in how things look can lead to pride. Their farms can often be spotted by their dirt driveways and roads, while most Old Order Amish use gravel or pavement. The roofs of their homes and barns are often made of tin.
Their clothing colors are dark and serious, like navy, dark burgundy, or gray. They do not wear bright blues or mauves. Women's dresses usually reach the tops of their shoes. Men's hats have wider brims, about four inches wide, which is wider than hats worn by less strict Amish men.
The harnesses on their horses and buggies are usually all black, not brown leather. Swartzentruber Amish use special reflective tape on the back of their buggies instead of bright orange "slow moving" signs. They think the orange signs are too modern. Their buggies also use lanterns instead of battery-powered lights or reflectors. The lanterns are often placed at different heights, one slightly higher than the other, so they don't look like car taillights.
There have been several court cases where states wanted the Swartzentruber groups to use the orange triangle signs. So far, even up to the federal Supreme Court, the Amish have won these cases. However, studies show that in areas where these groups live, there are more accidents involving buggies.
On September 13, 2011, some Swartzentruber men faced legal issues for not using the orange reflective triangle on their horse-drawn carriages.
Swartzentruber Amish usually do not let teenagers leave the community during rumspringa (a time when some Amish youth explore the outside world). However, they do allow teenagers to "court" to find a marriage partner. This includes spending time together to get to know each other.
How Many Swartzentruber Amish There Are
Like other traditional Amish groups, the Swartzentruber Amish tend to have more children than the average Old Order Amish. One study showed that Swartzentruber women had an average of 9.3 children. Because they also have a high number of young people who stay in the community, the Swartzentruber group is growing very fast.
Between 1991 and 2010, the number of their church districts (local church groups) grew from 38 to 103. This is a huge growth of 171 percent!
In 1936, there were only three Swartzentruber church districts. By 1957, there were five, with about 200 families. In 1944, a settlement was started in Ethridge, Tennessee. Around 2013, this settlement had ten church districts and about 1,520 people. It is the largest Amish settlement in the southern United States.
The settlement near Lodi and Homerville, Ohio, started in 1952. Around 2013, it had 14 church districts and about 2,148 people. In 1975, a settlement near Heuvelton, New York, was founded. Around 2013, it had 12 church districts and about 1,671 people.
As of 2000, the Swartzentruber Amish had 64 church districts, with 3,165 members and a total population of 7,101 people. They lived in 12 states, with 33 districts in Ohio alone. Nineteen of these districts were in Holmes County and Wayne County, where the group first started. The Swartzentruber Amish make up about 7 percent of all Old Order Amish. By 2011, there were 119 Swartzentruber Amish church districts and 43 settlements in 13 states in the US, as well as in Ontario, Canada.
What the Name "Swartzentruber" Means
Swartzentruber is a family name that comes from Switzerland. It is a common name among Mennonites and Amish. The name comes from the Trub river valley, which is located between Bern and Lucerne. Some people think the name means "seller of black grapes." Other ways to spell the name in English include Schwartzentruber, Swartzendruber, Schwartzendruber, Schwarzentruber, and Schwarztrauber.
