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 29

Some Cemetery Statue Photos

Halloween is this Thursday and today I am taking a break from my usual Tombstone Tuesday to instead post some of my favorite photos that I have taken of cemetery statues.

Oct 25

1918 Photo of Dynamited Schumm Parochial School

One hundred and one years ago residents in the area of Schumm, Ohio, were shocked when Zion Lutheran’s parochial school was dynamited in the early morning hours of 20 October 1918. The time was during WWI, when the country was filled with anti-German sentiment. Schumm was settled by German immigrants.

Oct 22

Tombstone Tuesday–Alma Schinnerer

This is the tombstone of Alma Schinnerer, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

ALMA SCHINNERER
1891-1977

Oct 18

Two More Photos from Morrison Photography, Chattanooga, Ohio

At one time, likely in the late 1800s or just after the turn of the century, Chattanooga, Ohio, had a photographer–Morrison Photography. I know this because I have a couple of these photos, with Morrison, Chattanooga, O, incised in the frame mat.

That is all I know about this photographer. He is somewhat of a mystery.

Oct 15

Tombstone Tuesday-Paula I. Schinnerer

This is the tombstone of Paula I. Schinnerer, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Paula I.
Schinnerer
14 Mai 1900
23 Dec. 1912
Text: Luca, 2.11.