Many of the Beachy Amish were originally Swiss German Mennonites who joined Jakob Ammann's splinter group/cult before moving to Pennsylvania 300 years ago, then split into various subgroups over the years including their namesake Joseph Beachy's about 100 years ago. While some moved to Ontario in the 1850s-1880s directly from Alsace-Lorraine to places like Zurich, Milverton, New Hamburg ON, others came from Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois around 100 years ago. To make things more confusing, this Amish splinter group has increasing called themselves "Conservative Mennonites" since the 1960s. Some have moved to places like Creston BC, Vauxhall AB, Perth ON and rural New Brunswick.
One group of Beachy Amish, a mix of Ontarians and Americans, have set up a mission/farming community in Ukraine near Kyiv and now into Romania to escape the war. They have been successfully converting desperately poor Ukrainian peasants in villages such as those seen in the Dutch couples' YouTube. My ex gf was part of this group, living in Ukraine for many years as a teenager.
Yet another group of these "Conservative Mennonites" has a farming community in Ireland, and another in Paraguay. I hope you're getting the big picture: Palatinate Germans/Dutch are very successful at turning undesirable land into prosperous farms, using their extensive cousins clubs, huge families and local peasant labor. Being tax exempt and pacifists, their work ethic is desired by third world dictators although they rarely integrate into secular society.
Last edited by urbandreamer; May 4, 2024 at 1:02 AM.
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