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. The Milligan Painting — 22 comments
  5. Metal Cemetery Monuments — 21 comments

Author's posts

Tombstone Tuesday–Albert “Bruno” & May R. Betzel

  This is the tombstone of Bruno and May R. Betzel, located in row 5, Ward 11, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: BETZEL Albert “Bruno” 1894-1965 May R. 1895-1978 Christian Friedrich Albert Betzel was born 6 December 1894 in Chattanooga, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. He was baptized at …

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Years Ago in Downtown Chattanooga, Ohio

Last week I wrote about the residents of Chattanooga, Ohio, as they were enumerated in the 1940 census. As I was going through some of my dad’s old photos I found a couple photos of Chatt.   According to the 1940 census Walter Heffner had a grocery. When I was young Harold Bollenbacher owned the …

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In Memory of Herbert Miller, 1925-2012

A member of The Greatest Generation passed away this past Saturday–my father, Herbert M Miller. This blog is devoted to his memory. Farewell brave soldier. We miss you so very much.   Thank you for being a wonderful father and thank you for your service for our country. May you rest in peace. Herbert M. …

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Chattanooga Happenings–April 1940

Yesterday I listed all the inhabitants of Chattanooga, Ohio, as they were recorded in the 1940 census. After that I decided I wanted to learn more about what was going on in the village back in 1940. So I went to the Mercer County Public Library in Celina and looked through several April 1940 issues …

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Inhabitants of Chattanooga, Ohio, 1940

This past week I continued to look through the 1940 census, focusing on the nearest place I can call my home town—the unincorporated village of Chattanooga, in Mercer County, Ohio. Just who were the approximately 150 residents living there in April 1940? The 1940 census gave me that information. Chattanooga, called Chatt by the locals, …

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