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

Mar 24

Soldiers Depart Van Wert, 22 July 1918

This photo belonged to my grandfather Cornelius Schumm. The photo was taken by D.E. Agler on the west side of the Van Wert Courthouse on 22 July 1918. In the photo are 139 young Van Wert County men before leaving for basic training at Camp Sherman, to ultimately serve with the Allied Forces in Europe during WWI.

Mar 21

Tombstone Tuesday-Exedra Monument

Exedra is a rather unusual cemetery monument, usually seen in larger cemeteries. Here are two local examples.

Mar 17

March 1911 Blackcreek & Liberty News

Today, back to some of news from Blackcreek and Liberty Townships in 1911, the articles taken from The Celina Democrat online images.

Mar 14

Tombstone Tuesday-Log Cabin Monument

This log cabin tombstone is located in Roberts Cemetery, Oregon Road, in Mercer County, Ohio. It is a unique grave marker and I don’t recall if I have seen another like it.

Mar 10

Johann Georg Schumm II Family in Ruppertshofen

So far I have written about the parents, grandparents, and in-laws our immigrant ancestor Johann George Schumm II. Today, Johann George Schumm II’s family in Germany, from the Ruppertshofen church records. Once again, the church records give up some surprises.