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

The 6th Day of Christmas

Even though all the Christmas services are over and most families have had their Christmas gatherings, it is still the Christmas Season. These are The Twelve Days of Christmas, the time from Christmas Day until the beginning of Epiphany. It is from 25 December through 5 January. Epiphany Day is 6 January. Today is the …

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Tombstone Tuesday–Christian Heintz

This is the tombstone of Christian Heintz, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The gravestone is inscribed: HEINTZ, Christian Heintz, Died Sept. 1, 1889, aged 59 Y [years], 8 M [months], 21 D [days]. Christian’s death and burial record as it was recorded in Zion’s church records: Christ Heinz, …

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Christmas Memories–Music

Christmas is the season for beautiful music and music is a big part of my life. I play both the piano and organ and I have been the organist at Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, for nearly 46 years now. We have a beautiful church with very good acoustics. The Christmas Eve service is particularly beautiful at …

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Tombstone Tuesday–Emil F. & Myrtle E. Brandt

This is the tombstone of Emil and Myrtle Brandt, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed BRANDT, Myrtle E., 1906-1981; Emil F., 1900-1954. Their obituaries: Countian Dies Assisting with Church Service—Emil F. Brandt, 55, of two miles south of Willshire in Blackcreek Township, died following a …

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Christmas Memories–Family Gatherings

Some of the best holiday memories come from family get-togethers. When I was young we went to each of my grandparents’ homes for a Christmas celebration. The Schumms usually gathered for an evening meal sometime between Christmas and New Year’s Day. We were all able to sit around their dining room table, which was set …

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