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

Apr 11

Tombstone Tuesday-Hugo F. Krueckeberg

This is the tombstone of Hugo F. Krueckeberg, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
HUGO F.
KRUECKEBERG
Dec. 27, 1903-Oct. 5, 1985

Apr 07

Happy Easter!

Today is Good Friday, the day Christians observe when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. But on the third day, our Easter Sunday, He rose from the dead and we celebrate His resurrection.

Apr 04

Tombstone Tuesday-Carl H. & Vilenna M. (Bienz) Krueckeberg

This is the tombstone of Carl H. and Vilenna M. Krueckeberg, located in row 2 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
KRUECKEBERG
Carl H.
1877-1943
Vilenna M.
1879-1964

Mar 31

Two Schumm Soldiers in WWI

Last week I posted a photo of 139 young men from Van Wert County, in front of the Van Wert County Courthouse, just before they departed for Camp Sherman on 22 July 1918, where they would receive basic training before entering WWI. At that same time my grandfather Cornelius Schumm (1896-1986) was of draft age, age 21.

Mar 28

Tombstone Tuesday-Occupation Symbols

A variety of symbols and images can be carved or etched on tombstones. The photos below show examples of carvings and etchings and show the difference between the two techniques. Today, some local tombstones that indicate a person’s occupation.