Stories Behind The Marketplace’s Amish Families
Meet the Swarey Family
On their 20‑acre farm, Phineas and Mary Swarey have built a life where the work of the land blends with the art of basketmaking. Married for more than 18 years, they draw on roots that stretch from Mary’s Wisconsin upbringing, where weaving was part of community life, to Phineas’s childhood up in Ontario, Canada, where the seasons shaped the pace of work and instilled in him the value of persistence.
Their children, John, Levi, Willie, Joe, Harley, and David, are growing up in a home where family, faith, and work are closely connected. Horses graze in the pasture, goats wander along the fence line, and a generous garden yields sweet corn, potatoes, onions, muskmelons, tomatoes, and peppers. Spring is their favorite season, when the first green shoots promise another year of abundance.
Five days a week, the family gathers in the workshop. The air carries the soft creak of weaving and the quiet conversations surrounding their shared work. Mary’s practiced hands and Phineas’s precise craftsmanship set the tone, while the children learn at their own pace. Evenings are often spent with a pot of the family’s favorite chili soup, or on weekend evenings, they may treat themselves to pizza and ice cream. The Swareys believe that life’s richest moments are found in working together and cherishing the home they have built.
Meet the Yoder Family
David and Rebecca Yoder’s life together is built on heritage, hard work, and the joy of creating side by side. Married for more than 27 years, they represent the second and third generations of Yoders to weave baskets, continuing a tradition that began long before they were born.
David grew up in Ohio in a family where basketmaking was part of daily life. Rebecca spent her early years in Minnesota and learned to weave at the age of 13. Both families eventually moved to our local Amish community along the Iowa and Missouri border, settling on farms close to one another. It was here, while fishing as youngsters, that David and Rebecca first met.
They live on the farm David’s father purchased when they moved to our community, and now their children, including Lydiann, Barbara, Anna, Lana, and Mary, fill the home with energy. Basketmaking is truly a family enterprise, with David’s brother Jacob and his wife Sarah living nearby and weaving alongside their own children. This close‑knit network of relatives works together much as their forefathers did, sharing skills, tools, and encouragement.
The Yoders’ 76‑acre farm is devoted mainly to hay, with horses, cows, and chickens adding to the daily chores. A half‑acre garden produces tomatoes, onions, beans, sweet corn, strawberries, and melons. For the Yoders, weaving is both a livelihood and a way to honor the generations who came before them.
Meet the Mast Family
Phineas and Rosa Mast’s life together is a story of shared roots and steady growth. Both were raised in Kahoka, Missouri, and first knew each other as children. Their paths crossed again in Minnesota, where they married and began building a life centered on hard work, faith, and family. Basketmaking became part of that life early on, taught to Rosa by a cousin, and has since grown into a full family endeavor.
Their children—Lovina, Inez, Rachel, Edna, Marie, Harvey, Alma, Laura, Esther, and Treva—each contribute in their own way. Recently, several Mast cousins moved from Texas to join the work, including Orpha, Katie Ellen, Alta, Ruthann, Irine, and Fannie, adding even more family connection to the shop.
The Masts’ 40‑acre farm is home to horses, ponies, cows, calves, pigs, sheep, and the ever‑present farm dogs and cats. A nearly one‑acre garden produces sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, peppers, and onions. Winter is their favorite season, when the pace slows and the family gathers indoors.
Days begin with barn chores and a hot breakfast, followed by shop work, household tasks, and shared meals. For the Masts, basketmaking is more than a livelihood. It is a way to stay together, pass down skills, and create something lasting for others to enjoy.
Meet the Borntrager Family
Alton and Dorothy Borntrager’s home is a place where family, faith, and craft come together. Married for more than 17 years, they share a life shaped by the values they learned as children growing up in the same Amish community they still call home.
Alton was born in Minnesota, and Dorothy was born in Delaware, but both moved to the local community when they were very young. Growing up in our local, close‑knit community meant their paths crossed often, and over time, friendship grew into the partnership they now share.
Their daughters, Regina Fern, Rosanna, Verna Mae, Verda Kay, Emma Sue, and Savilla Luella, bring energy and joy to the household. Dorothy’s sister lives next door and lends a hand in the basket shop, making the work truly a family effort.
The Borntragers’ 13‑acre farm is a mix of pasture and fruit trees. Their large garden produces tomatoes, squash, green beans, and popcorn. Summer is their favorite season, when the garden is in full swing and the table is filled with fresh vegetables. Evenings often find them visiting neighbors, tending the garden together, or watching the children play as the sun sets over the pasture. For the Borntragers, basketmaking strengthens the bonds within their family, passing down their cherished skills and values so future generations can carry their tradition forward.