The Amish Faith had its start in Switzerland and was founded by Jakob Ammon. He and a small number of people became dissatisfied with the worldliness of the parent Mennonite Church. It was their wish to live a more strict and simple life; therefore they formed together as a group who rejected wars, materialism and frivolity. Early Mennonites came to America to seek religious freedom in 1632. They settled in Pennsylvania and were divided into two groups. The "Church Amish" favored a central church building; the other group known as "House Amish" favored holding services in a home. The Amish in our area are "House Amish." The first Amish families settled in central Illinois in 1865. Today there are 25 Amish church districts which cover an area approximately twelve miles East and West, and 5 miles North and 10 miles South with Arthur at the Heart of the settlement.

There are approximately 4500 Amish in a portion of Douglas, Moultrie, and Coles Counties in East Central Illinois. When the young Amish couples are married they are often given a parcel of land by one of the fathers to raise their families on. An average Amish farm consists of approximately 80 acres, their main crops being wheat, oats, clover, and corn. Until a few years ago, farming was their only way of life. Due to the fact that ground is no longer plentiful, some of the Amish are finding other ways of life such as woodworking, like furniture and cabinetry, quilting, retail stores such as bike shops and grocery stores and several Amish are now employed at various manufacturing jobs in the area.

Their homes are large with several rooms opening into one large room where they hold church. The houses are furnished very simply with benches on which the families sit to eat their meals. The floors are bare and the windows are covered with plain colored cloth. The Amish women are good cooks, cooking foods raised on their farms such as pork, beef, chicken, turkey, and vegetables from their large gardens.

The men wear beards, but the young Amish shave until they are married. The Amish women dress simply with plain mid-calf length dresses. Their heads have a covering or white prayer cap which is worn at all times and a black bonnet is worn outside. The girls dress like carbon copies of their mothers. The Amish men dress is simple with the men wearing dark colored high vests over plain home-made shirts, collarless coats fastened with hooks and eyes. They have their hair cut in a “Dutch Bob.” When visiting Amish Country of Central Illinois, make your first stop one of the area visitor centers, in Arcola, Arthur, Sullivan or Tuscola. You’ll find up to the minute information on all local events in Amish Country and directions to help you find your way around!