A Tour of Amish Country: Where The EX-Amish Guy Grew Up!

[goofydog2]

Catching this video a little after the fact, but I wondered if you knew any Amish folks by the name of; Bioler, Byler, Beiler or Beyeler They are all pronounced the same which would spell something like this; Biler. Just thought I'd ask. Thanks...

[mrdeleted]

@goofydog2 Yes, I have an old friend Andy Byler, in Applecreek Ohio, he runs a furniture store, and an online company, History1776, that sells historical documents to schools and people that are interested in history (like the Declaration of Independence)

[goofydog2]

@mrdeleted - that's cool! I'm a Byler on my grandmother's side. We all understood that a son from Jacob Beiler (same pronunciation), the 1st over from Switzerland, had converted to the Amish faith sometime after settling in Penn. I thought he had changed the spelling to Boiler, again, same pronunciation. But who knows? Thanks!

[mrdeleted]

@goofydog2 Then we may be distant relatives :-) I know that someone about 5 generations back had a name like that.

[goofydog2]

@mrdeleted - I was reading some of the information/theories concerning the Byler connection to the Amish. ... Allen Beiler, to name but one expert, believes the evidence points to Jacob's son Christopher, by Elizabeth Kallen, stating that it appears he, Christopher; "married a woman from the Amish community near Centerport, Pennsylvania. It is more probable that Christopher Beiler, rather than Pioneer Jacob, is the progenitor of the large Amish Beiler-Byler community in America." Go figure?

[runrunawaynow]

They live right.

[mrdeleted]

@runrunawaynow Yes some of them do.

[philipsfree]

@runrunawaynow if you truly knew the hell that we grew up in you wouldn't say that.

[mrdeleted]

@philipsfree So true.

[ashleyjamball]

Funnily... I seen your comment on another vid saying that you use to be amish then came across this vid. Do you miss anything about your Amish life or not and did you ever leave the town you lived as a kid? Btw really intreeged about the Amish. Dont get them over in the uk

[bapyou]

About 20 years ago, in Pennsylvania, I saw a story on the Philadelphia TV news about an Amish man who had murdered his entire family and was found sitting on his couch with the corpses arranged around him in his bloodied living room.

The next day I drove to Lancaster County to see if I could find out anything more on the story firsthand. There wasn't a single mention of the murders in any of the local newspapers .

[mrdeleted]

@bapyou wow that ois pretty sick.

[bapyou]

@mrdeleted

Yes, it was pretty sick. And, not only did I not see any mention of the murders in the local Amish country newspapers, I never saw a followup story on the Philadelphia TV news either.

My thoughts at the time were that the local Amish did not want this story widely publicized because it would have been detrimental to the community image. But that idea is mine alone and is pure speculation.

[mrdeleted]

@bapyou Monkey see, monkey do!

You know that the Amish have a lot of power due to the tourist attraction that they have created, so who wants to mess up the tourist image of the Amish? You are right, that could have been the reason for no coverage, and maybe the Amish may not even have to had to ask for no coverage, the fact that they create a huge industry in the county means that all the judges etc feel the power of the Amish.

[bapyou]

@mrdeleted

Yes, the Amish are a big tourist attraction, I suppose in every area where they live. People in Pennsylvania, I remember, called it "Amish gawking."

Is this part of your memory when you were still a member of the community? Did outsiders drive around gawking at you?

The gawking is kind of creepy, isn't it?

[mrdeleted]

@bapyou Yes I do remember it, but I think the spicific community we were at was not as much so cause the Amish in that area did not build as many businesses around being Amish as say in the Berlin and Kidren areas. We did however have a business selling strawberries, and my uncle sold firewood, and I would go over and help people load their truck for tips, and my aunts would bake stuff to sell, so I would sell those things to the tourists.

[82mmafighter]

@mrdeleted i like this way to live i m intrested going too one church of them

[mrdeleted]

@82mmafighter Sounds good, you know a community you will be going to?

[mrdeleted]

@bapyou But there were no Amish themed restaurants and hotels around that area. But in Berlin you see quite a few of those type businesses, making them the local attraction.

[guitardiary]

I find this fascinating...where is this area? My fiance lives in New York state and we passed an Amish guy when we were travelling through the Fingerlakes checking out some of the Vineyards.

[mrdeleted]

@guitardiary Ohio

[Microglia1]

Are the Amish people in your community racist in any way? Do they have certain opinions about people from other groups? Say, blacks, jews, asians, mexicans,etc.?

[scrm1]

@Microglia1 Interesting - I've never seen anything other than "white" Amish. 

[mrdeleted]

@scrm1 At least 99% are white. I know of one woman who had a black baby.

[phillygirl06]

I met an Amish guy In lancaster back in the early 80's. He got in trouble for talking to me and fiving me free candy. we were both 16 at the time...I bet he would have dated me..

[sugercube99]

im gonna suscribe to you your vids are fun and very cool

[wildzdriver]

du bish dobbich

[mrdeleted]

u r 2

[crazymonkey186]

y did u leave????

[mrdeleted]

well I would say the child abuse was one reason, as well as the religious suppression - although I no longer am religious, I am just a Christian. I don't go to church anymore though...

[fcukupayme93]

is it black people there and if so how many

[mrdeleted]

Hardly, I have heard of some being adopted, but have never seen any in the community

(my sister adopted a black baby, but she is not Amish, and 2 cousions who are not Amish either had black babies, and well I heard there was an Amish girl who had a black baby from one of her co-workers, but did not know which one, so she had to go to the church and confess that she was a whore!)

[ICELANDIC1]

@mrdeleted What happened to her?  I heard about that too

[mrdeleted]

@ICELANDIC1 I have not heard what happened since, but the kid would have to be a few years old by now, just wonder how he/she is adjusting.

[puddingkatapult]

nice landscape.

[Galatasaryfan]

amish people need to keep up wit the future

[t74961971]

@Galatasaryfan no they don't.. they have a right to live just like they are. That is why they came here for there freedom. I live in the heartland of amish and I love them. I have many good friends that are Amish....I think we need to step backa few from the future.......

[stwbryshrtcake]

oh, nvm, i just saw your other video's. i don't quite understand why you had to move to your brothers house?

[mrdeleted]

Oh well several reasons, but I have to in a few - Chamber of Commerce meeting.

[stwbryshrtcake]

why did you leave, if you don't mind me asking?

[ZachGretzinger]

Where is this?

[mrdeleted]

Sullivan / Homerville / West Salem Ohio area.

[mariostud]

I should give you a tour of the Catholic hood I grew up in in Maryland. Talk about frightening. Growing up Catholic is a nightmare!

[mrdeleted]

Make it a video response!

[Kalahridudex]

was it full of child molestors?

[mrdeleted]

Amish or Catholic?

[T97Frida]

Interesting to see. Thanks for sharing!

[mrdeleted]

Thanks!

[ozfuji]

i applaud you my friend, a true brother of human kind. you have courage and the will to show it.

what your forefathers wanted and commited too. the world has changed, we have changed as people...

i am given new hope from your video posts.

the world needs more people like you friend.

the ironic thing is that people who dont belive in god are repeating the cycle of ignorance...

i wish you the best buddy.

[mrdeleted]

Thanks!

[DWMC93]

How can u say that people who dont believe in god are repeating the cycle of ignorance, when ignorance was a major product of religion.

[mklookings]

do amish people commit suicide?

[mrdeleted]

Yes, I have heard of Amish who commited suicide.

[chinesekmt]

Suicide must be considered a terrible sin to the Armish.

I wonder do their surviving family members "live in shame" or get discriminated by the Armish community?

[mrdeleted]

No, they are not, but the person that does commit suicide is buried outside the grave site... Want to see an Amish graveyard? PM me.

[antimillionaire]

Yeah, lot of problems with the Swartzentruber Amish as far as covering up abuse goes...

[matrxmax]

Is child discipline considered abuse? In todays modern culture discipline is discouraged, or any form of tutleage is discouraged to wedge parents from children.

[mrdeleted]

I discipline, but there is a fine line between discipline and abuse. Really, as a parent, we should not get mad at our children, but that does get hard at times, when a child is testing us.

However, that is exactly why we need to keep telling other parents (and most of all, ourself) to keep their anger in check in those times.

[YogaNate79]

These are simple and plain folk. And I wish that people would leave the Dutch Amish Order alone. They do not want the attention from tourists and feel that it is intrusive. They shut the outside world so that they can lead happy lives through hard work and church.

[mrdeleted]

Leave them alone? Why? So abuse can continue? That is one of the main reasons for abuse, cause they are so cut off from the rest of the world, just like the FLDS.

[YogaNate79]

I think that modern man can learn a lot from their way of life. But there comes a time when we have to draw a line. These people have good manners, they do not curse, and their children are not mouthy and naughty because of the strict discipline. And people make fun of them because they are self-sufficient and survive without the modern conveniences. I don't seem thm as abusive. I only wish people were more like them.

[mrdeleted]

I'm sorry, but you are confused, they ARE good Amish like you say, but, the opposite is also true.

I don't think making fun of them is right, but I was Swartzentruber Amish, and I know what it was like. I was basicly hated in my church, not only by adults, but also by teens, and I was once put in a cold water trough cause of an accident by one of my cousins.

I wish people would research it more before you make blanket statements about anyone, including the Amish.

Joe

[matrxmax]

You are absolutely right! did you see the example of the FDLS children, they were disciplined little children. So is this opressive?

[mrdeleted]

Well I am not sure if I saw the ones you mention, but in my opinion, in closed societies, abuse is way to easy to get away with, and the leaders, not wanting the world to see that there is a hole in their system, don't want to report such problems to outside world, which makes the abuser bolder rather then quit the abuse.

In the Amish, one such member kept abusing for 40 years, and then got 5 years for abusing his 3 and 5 year old granddaughters...

[mrdeleted]

(continued) my question is, how many years would you or I have got? I think it would have been longer then 5 years for sure!

[deathtobill5]

aren't as bad as hassidic jews

[mrdeleted]

hasdic, i am not sure what it means though...

[mrdeleted]

sure some have done so, but it is rare...

[mrdeleted]

np man, thnx for subbing!

[MVCoho]

I like this tour, is this in Ohio? And forgive me but, I'm new to your videos so if you stated this I haven't seen it...My question is why did you leave the Amish lifestyle?

[mrdeleted]

Yes, it is Ohio.

I have 2 videos you can watch for the 2nd question: "former amish video" and the one that is titled "20/20: The secret life of the Amih (Swartzentruber Amish)" you can search them on my profile...

[BuscaBrisas408]

Hi, Joe

I enjoyed your tour. I live just a few miles away from the tour, down near Gerwig's White Barn market. The school you went to looks familiar. Would it happen be the one on C.R. 500? Hard to be sure.

Tod

[mrdeleted]

I think that is the place...

[mrdeleted]

It is west of Firestone Road, and the house I grew up is north one mile on Mayes Rd.

[wendsday3]

Whoa! I love this video!!! Thank you for showing us around =)

[mrdeleted]

Denki! (thank you)

[Oddsweb]

amazing place you grew up.. Thank you so much for sharing this :¬D

[AutymnRosa]

Pretty cool. Sorry to hear about your van.

I notice you say "used to be.." a lot. Is most of your family still Amish? If so, why are all these "used to be" homes?

Have you ever heard of PowWow Doctors?

[mrdeleted]

Yes we all moved out of the Sulivan area over some church dispute. Most of my family moved to the Wooster area in the late 80's/early 90's and my family moved to Shreve in June of 90. I have one brother still Swartzentruber, in Wooster/Funk, and 3 sisters are Amish, but left the Swartzentrubers. The rest left exept my one deceaced brother.

[mrdeleted]

Yes, the Amish have those doctors, but I don't beleive in them

[missno8]

we had to drive home 3 hours. We got stuck on a hill just down the road from Dutch Valley restaurant. Those hills are no fun in the snow! LOL

[mrdeleted]

LOL I can imagine!

[missno8]

what part of Amish Country is this? Is it outside of Berlin? We've been down a lot of those back roads out there. I'm anxious to get back down there again. Haven't been there since October! I'm kind of affraid to come down in winter after we had to drive home last year in that lovely valentines day blizzard.

[mrdeleted]

This is actually in the West Salem/Sullivan area. About 10 miles south of Wellington, where we were for the picnics.