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. The Old Willshire Hotel — 30 comments
  2. Haunted Mercer County? — 30 comments
  3. Florence (Schumm) Miller (1929-2016) — 21 comments
  4. Metal Cemetery Monuments — 21 comments
  5. The Milligan Painting — 18 comments

Author's posts

Tombstone Tuesday–Anna Rosina Betzel

This is the tombstone of Anna Rosina Betzel, located in row 14 of Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: Hier ruht, Anna Rosina Betzel, geb. Herzog, geboren zu Puschendorf, Bayern, 1 November 1828, Gestorben 15 Mai 1879.Translated it reads: Here lies Anna Rosina Betzel, born Herzog, born in Puschendorf, Bavaria, …

Continue reading

Willshire Public School

After looking at last week’s old school photos I got to thinking about my elementary school, Willshire Public School, in Van Wert County, Ohio. I attended school there from first grade through eighth grade, although the school system expanded and changed its name during that time. Construction on the Willshire school building was started in …

Continue reading

Tombstone Tuesday–Bernice E. and Robert L. Dudgeon

This is the tombstone of Bernice and Robert Dudgeon, located east of Geneva in Riverside Cemetery, Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana, The marker is inscribed: DUDGEON, Bernice E., 1907-1994, Robert L., 1903-1992. Obituary: ROBERT L. DUDGEON Robert L. Dudgeon, 88, route 2, Berne, died Friday, Mar. 27 at Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne. Death was …

Continue reading

School Days

Right now I’m sure most local school-aged children are wondering where this summer has gone, lamenting because most of the schools in our area opened this past week. I remember those days. I have been sorting through several groups of photos that I obtained this summer. There were several school pictures among my dad’s photos …

Continue reading

Tombstone Tuesday–Caroline Biberstein

This is the tombstone of Caroline Biberstein, located in row 14 of Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed Hier ruhet, Caroline Biberstein, Geb. 14 Nov 1874, Gest 15 Oct 1890, Alter 15 Jah, 11 Mo, 1 Td. Translation: Here rests Caroline Biberstein, born 14 Nov 1874, died 15 Oct 1890, …

Continue reading