A native of Ohio, Stephen Scott attended Cedarville College and Wright State University before moving to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1969. He is a member of the Old Order River Brethren and has done extensive study of the life and history of conservative Anabaptist and Pietist groups. His published writings include Plain Buggies (1981), Why Do They Dress That Way? (1986), The Amish Wedding and Other Special Occasions of the Old Order Communities (1988), Living Without Electricity (1990), Amish Houses and Barns (1992), and An Introduction to Old Order and Conservative Mennonite Groups (1996).