Ruth Hoover Seitz

About 40,000 Old Order people still live in Amish settlement in 20 US states and a Canadian province. They split from the Mennonite Anabaptists, and get their name from founder, Jacob Amman, who thought Mennonites did not sufficient shun -- Meidung -- those who were falling away from the faith. Amman felt foot-washing--serving eachother--was very important.

The Amish migrated from Switzerland or Germany, starting in the 1720's, and no longer exist in those countries. The population doubles every twenty years and seven new settlements are founded each year. Mostly farming, caring for families and land.… (mer)