Category: Ohio


My Uncle’s Iconic Farmstead
William (Bill) Hershberger

An interesting 65 year old “Swartzentruber Amish” gentleman! Visiting with him and his wife for at least three hours. I had taken my Uncle and Aunt, two cousins and their spouses to visit them and encourage him, while he is laid up with a broken leg. He had been my Uncle’s hired hand, 45 years ago. They remembered sending him to the neighbors, when their son was born, since it was a home birth, and they didn’t think he needed to be there for that event!! You see my cousin relaxed in the corner, enjoying the conversations which covered many events of the last 45 years, as well as events while he worked for my Uncle! Whenever he traveled home for the weekend, he would sing most of the way home in his horse and carriage, with his small hymn book in his hand.  They said they could hear him singing out in the field while working. If he wasn’t singing he was preaching to the horses! 🙂 

I kept wanting to get his photo, and finally after two hours I couldn’t resist. I think it looked like I was typing conversation tidbits into my phone, while taking the photo. Actually I had been typing the conversations into my phone, including way too many to write about in this post!

His brother stopped in to visit while we were there, a widower with children, who had married a widow with children. The one had 11 children and the other had 7 children when their spouses had died.  In their conversations, they mentioned a 91 year-old lady, who had 130 grandchildren, and 390 great grandchildren. A family tree larger than most folks!  Likely family reunions are in the summer under the shade trees, and not at the local Convention Center!

A Nice Farmstead
Amish Farmstead
Place Setting
Aunt Esther Zook
Aunt Esther and Alice, my wife in conversation
My Aunt and Me

Carolina Wren

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This beautiful bird shows up to enjoy the sunflowers among the remnants of the wildflowers.

Good Morning

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Holmes  County, Ohio Sunrise

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They were in 7th and 8th place in the Holmes County Antique Festival 5K race in Millersburg, Ohio, as they passed our house!

Flight Time

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Immature Red-Tailed Hawk

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Lead runner in the Holmes  County Antique Festival 5K.