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

The Page Pipe Organ at Zion Chatt

Last week I wrote about the 100th anniversary of the building of Zion Lutheran Church in Chattanooga, Ohio, the current brick building that was built in 1916 and dedicated in 1917. There is one item inside the church that I am very familiar with—the Page pipe organ. I have played on it nearly every week …

Continue reading

Tombstone Tuesday–Pauline Becher

This is the tombstone of Pauline Emma Becher, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: PAULINE Dau. of Wm. P. & C.S. Becher 1912 Pauline Emma Becher was born prematurely at 7:30 p.m. on 2 August 1912 at her parents’ home in Liberty Township, Mercer County, …

Continue reading

Zion Lutheran Church Building in Chatt a Century Old

Last year Zion Lutheran Church in Chattanooga, Ohio, celebrated its 160th anniversary. This year, although no celebration is planned, we recognize that fact that the current church building was built 100 years ago. The congregation of Zion Chatt was formed in 1855 and for the first five years members worshiped in their homes. In 1860 …

Continue reading

Tombstone Tuesday–William P. & Katie (Schaadt) Becher

This is the tombstone of William P. and Katie (Schaadt) Becher, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: BECHER William P. 1872-1938 Katie 1877-1955 William Philipp Becher was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on 2 March 1872, the son of John and Anna Maria (Becker) Becher. …

Continue reading

Wildcat School No. 9, Mercer County, Ohio

School is back in session and summer vacation is over for students and teachers. The school schedule is so ingrained in me that I always have to remind myself that there is still a lot of summer left even though school has started. I grew up on Wildcat Corner, where a two-room brick school once …

Continue reading