By Kevin Williams
There are a cluster of Amish settlements around Indian Lake in west-central Ohio. Â One is around Belle Center, the other is around Mount Victory, and a third one is around Degraff. Â I have been to Belle Center and Mount Victory. I had always heard that Degraff was the "less prosperous" community. Â In fact, one non-Amish person warned me that Degraff is where the "bad Amish go." Â I wasn't quite sure that meant and it was probably just hyperbole, so I went to Degraff gung ho to make some new friends and explore.
I will say, though, that upon arrival I quickly realized that this was a very conservative community. Â Ther
A handful of Amish businesses are in Degraff, but not many...
A typical Amish home in Degraff
e seems to be some influence from Berne, Indiana's Amish settlement here (Berne is only an hour away by car) with the insular mindset and open buggies. Â There were many homes that seemed half finished, with no siding, for instance.
Open buggies are the norm in Degraff, a trait also found in Berne
It put me to mind a little bit of Beeville, Texas's ultra-conservative Amish. Degraff is not a Swartzentruber community, but they are on the very conservative end of the Amish spectrum.  More about my visit to Degraff tomorrow.
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