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

The Music Men of Chatt

It is a little country village said to have been established before 1840. Located in the center of mid-west farm land, just a mile from the Indiana State Line, it has only one street and that is the state highway that runs through the middle of town. It has been home to a number of …

Continue reading

Tombstone Tuesday–John G. Kessler

This is the tombstone of John G. Kessler, located in Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: John G. Sohn von C. & M. Kessler Geb. 28 Aug 1852 Gest. 28 Apr 1853 Alter 8 Monat Translation: John G., son of C. & M. Kessler, born 28 August 1852, died 28 …

Continue reading

Genealogy Roadshow to Debut

If you enjoy watching the hit show Who Do You Think You Are? you will be pleased to learn that another genealogy-related TV show will premier this coming Monday, September 23rd, on the PBS network. Genealogy Roadshow is the American version of the hit Irish TV series and has a format similar to that of Antiques Roadshow. …

Continue reading

Tombstone Tuesday–Margarethe Kessler

This is the tombstone of Margarethe Kessler, located in Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: KESSLER Margarethe Frau von C. Kessler Geb 25 Juli 1816 Gest 8 Sept, 1862 Alter 46J. 1m.  14T. Translation: KESSLER, Margarethe, wife of C. Kessler, born 25 July 1816, died 8 September 1862, aged 46 …

Continue reading

The Chattanooga Mausoleum

It has stood for nearly a century, located near Chattanooga, Ohio, just west of Zion Lutheran Cemetery on Tama Road. Situated on the edge of a field and once considered a modern form of burial, it is the final resting place for nearly 40 former area residents. The structure is the Chattanooga Mausoleum, built about …

Continue reading