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

May 31

Tombstone Tuesday-Military Flag Holders

Yesterday was Memorial Day and many of us visited cemeteries to honor the graves of military veterans who served our country or who died while serving our country. Their grave sites are easily recognizable with their metal flag holders, holding new American flags that were recently placed by the local American Legion or VFW.

May 27

Memorial Day 2022

This coming Monday we celebrate Memorial Day. Originally called Decoration Day, this federal holiday dates back to just after the Civil War, as a way to remember and honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who were killed in battle during the Civil War.

May 24

Tombstone Tuesday-Calla Lily Images

The image of calla lilies on a tombstone symbolizes majestic beauty, marriage, and fidelity.

May 20

Willshire, Schumm, & Chatt-1914 R.G. Dun Mercantile Reference

Who knew that some local towns and their merchants were listed in the R.G. Dun Mercantile Agency Reference Books years ago? Yes, this is the same R.G. Dun who eventually became Dun and Bradstreet. Willshire, Schumm, and Chattanooga are all called Banking Towns in their publication.  

May 17

Tombstone Tuesday-Hannah Miller

This is the tombstone of Hannah Miller, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
Hannah,
Wife of
Georg Miller
died Feb. 7
1849
aged 65 yrs