Karen Bennett

Greetings from the Chattanooga, Ohio, area. Yes, Ohio has its very own Chattanooga, aka Chatt, a small village in west-central Ohio, near the Indiana border. I have been doing family history and genealogy research for over 35 years and am Credentialed as a Board-certified genealogist by the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, 2003-2024, retired 2024. My main genealogical interests are family research, cemetery research, and historical and genealogical research of the Chatt area. I also focus on two area Lutheran Churches, both named Zion Lutheran, one in Chatt and the other in Schumm, Ohio. Family names I am researching include Miller, Schumm, Brewster, Rueck, Reid, Headington, Huey, Bryan, Whiteman, Schinnerer, Scaer, Breuninger, Bennett, and a few others. I belong to several lineage societies, including U.S. Daughters of 1812, First Families of Ohio, and First Families of Mercer and Van Wert Counties. I am a retired dental hygienist and our church organist for over 60 years. I hope you enjoy Karen's Chatt.

Most commented posts

  1. Golden Wedding Anniversary — 37 comments
  2. Haunted Mercer County? — 34 comments
  3. The Old Willshire Hotel — 30 comments
  4. Metal Cemetery Monuments — 25 comments
  5. The Milligan Painting — 24 comments

Author's posts

Oct 15

A Virtual Walk through Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chatt

A virtual cemetery walk. The next best thing to being there. No worries about uneven ground, walking distances, inclement weather, or getting tired. I did the walking so you don’t have to. Today, a virtual walk through Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio. Land was purchased for Zion’s cemetery in 1866 from Michael Burger. Zion Lutheran …

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Sep 10

4 April 1887-Fire Destroys Chatt Hotel

The hotel belonging to M.E. Kelley, of Chattanooga, this county, was destroyed by fire on Monday last. Loss about $1,500. Not insured. The storeroom of Gabe Worthner, on adjoining building was also burned at the same time. Loss about $1,500. This building was insured by McAfee & Snyder’s Agency for $1,500. [1]   This would …

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Jul 30

Our Sensational Schumm Family

The biennial Schumm reunion is this weekend, 102 years of Schumm reunions, the 46th reunion. In commemoration of the John George Schumm family, I am sharing the talk I presented at the 2024 reunion, Our Sensational Schumm Family. For that 2024 reunion, the 100th year anniversary of the Schumm reunion, we published an updated Schumm …

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Jul 23

Postmarked Schumm, 1912, from Anna (Seemeyer) Liebmann

This postcard is postmarked Schumm, Ohio, 19 August 1912, and provides some interesting Schumm connections for both the Schumm family and for Zion Lutheran Church at Schumm.  The message is handwritten in German script (Kurrentschrift) and was translated by Scribe AI on MyHeritage.com. Interesting that in 1912 this family was speaking and writing German.  The …

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Jul 02

The Past 250 Years-America 250!

To commemorate Independence Day this year and America’s 250th anniversary, here is my list of some highlights of American’s past 250 years by decade. My timeline includes national, state, local, and personal milestones. 1770s: The Revolutionary War begins in 1775.The Declaration of Independence is adopted on 4 July 1776.Christian Whiteman [Karen’s ancestor] and Samuel Bennett, …

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