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Photo by Errol on UnsplashThe Emme Valley lies in west central Switzerland, forming part of the Canton of Bern. It is a hilly landscape with the Emme River flowing through, forming a basin. The regi … read more

Suffering and martyrdom were a factor in the development of Anabaptism in the early years of the movement. Many people suffered, and some died for their faith. One such person was a fiery pr … read more

When the Amish and Mennonites move and start another settlement in the modern world, it often is because we have “filled” the previous settlement and there is no more land available for young famil … read more

Recently we have looked at the Russian Mennonites and their settlements in Russia. Also we looked at how a small group (Kleine Gemeinde) broke away from the main group over concerns about morality, … read more

We began the journey east into Russia as Dutch and German Mennonites settled in the Ukraine under the invitation of the Russian government. Here they were granted large parcels of land, and colonie … read more

 We have been writing about how and when the Amish and Mennonites came to America and the unique challenges they faced. At the same time that these Anabaptists were coming to America, others w … read more

The Hochstetler family who was attacked by Indians while living on the frontier in Berks County, Pennsylvania.This happened early on the morning of September 20 or 21, 1757. The Indians killed Mrs. … read more

As a small boy growing up in our community, I often heard stories about the past. One of the most frequently told stories was about an incident that happened in 1757. As a boy, I supposed that the s … read more

Here in America, the Amish and Mennonites settled on lands they could finally own themselves. Here they could raise their families and their crops and finally find some peace from the oppression th … read more

Last month we introduced the Charming Nancy, the ship that brought a group of eleven Amish families to America. Hans Jacob Kaufman, who historians believe was an Amish Bishop, kept a small ca … read more

In the last article, we met William Penn, the Quaker leader, whose influence and faith led him to found a colony where religious freedom was instrumental in the Mennonites and Amish coming to Ameri … read more

In the years following the migration of Swiss Anabaptists north into the Rhine valley, they settled on farms and estates where they lived in a quiet but sometimes uneasy alliance with their neighbor … read more