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 research for over 20 years and am a Board-Certified genealogist, certified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. My main genealogical interests are family research, cemetery research, and historical and genealogical research of the Chatt area, with a 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 the Daughters of the American Revolution, U.S. Daughters of 1812, First Families of Ohio, and First Families of Mercer and Van Wert Counties. I am also a retired dental hygienist and our church organist. 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

Jan 20

Photos from the “Germann Collection”

Here are a few more photos from what I like to refer to as “The Germann Collection,” a group of old photos that belonged to Edna and Viola Germann. Edna (1896-1997), Viola (1900-2001), and their brother Wilbert (1905-1972) were the children of Stephen E. and Rosina (Schumm) Germann. Their father Stephen was the son of …

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Jan 17

Tombstone Tuesday–Mary E. Lotter

This is the tombstone of Mary E. Lotter located in row 4 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: Mary E. Dau of J.P. & C. LOTTER Died Mar 6, 1889 Aged 13 mo. & 12 d. Although the Lotters attended Zion Lutheran Church in Chatt at one time, where …

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Jan 13

Offering Envelopes, Old and New

The late Don Caffee used to have an amusing little saying about church. He said, “Whenever two or more are gathered, there will be an offering.” This little quip, called a Donism by his son, is fairly accurate. At the end of every year Zion Chatt’s members get their offering envelopes for the new year …

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Jan 10

Tombstone Tuesday–Johann Christopher Michael Lotter

This is the tombstone of Johann Christopher Michael Lotter, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: Hier Ruhet Johann Christopher M. Lotter Gest 17 Oct 1894 Alt 15 Jahr 10 Tag “Here rests Johann Christopher M. Lotter, died 17 October 1894, aged 15 years and 10 …

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Jan 06

Driving Grandma

It is hard to imagine not driving–not getting into your car and driving whenever and wherever you want. But that was the case with both of my grandmothers. Neither one could drive. At least neither one ever had a driver’s license or drove an automobile. My grandmothers, Gertrude (Brewster) Miller and Hilda (Scaer) Schumm, always …

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