ROBERT CUMMING SCHENCK [page 277] is president of the Dayton Malleable Iron company and one of the leading citizens of .Dayton. He was born at Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, October 2, 1845, received his early education in the public schools of Franklin, and was graduated from Miami university in 1864. He served on a gunboat during the Kirby Smith raid and in the militia during the John Morgan raid, and in May, 1864, enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth regiment, 0. N. G., and served with that regiment through the campaign in the mountains of West Virginia.
In 1866-67, Mr. Schenck read law in the office of Davies & Lowe, Dayton, Ohio. In 1868 he formed a partnership with S. W. Davies in the lumber business, from which he retired in 1870. After spending a considerable time in Europe, Mr. Schenck, with a number of other gentlemen, established the American District Telegraph company, which company also put up the first telephones in Dayton. From 1880 until 1882, Mr. Schenck was in the U. S. government service, being chief deputy and cashier of the third internal revenue district of Ohio. In 1880, he formed a partnership with Charles Wuichet in the National Cornice-works, of which firm he is still a member. In August, 1882, he became, and has ever since been, the president of the Dayton Malleable Iron company, one of Dayton's largest and most important manufacturing concerns. He is also a director in the Dayton National' bank, the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton. Railway company, the Columbia Insurance company, the Dayton Asphalt Paving and Roofing company, a trustee of the Woodland Cemetery association, and is identified with a number of other important enterprises in Dayton and elsewhere.
In 1868 Mr. Schenck was married to Julia Crane Davies, second daughter of Edward W. Davies of Dayton. To this marriage four children have been born, as follows: Mary D., who married J. Sprigg McMahon, of the legal firm of McMahon & McMahon; Graham C., who died in 1874; Pierce D. and Rennelche W., all of Dayton.
Mr. Schenck is recognized as one of Dayton's most successful and representative citizens. His enterprise and progressive spirit are well known and fully appreciated by the public, while his many fine traits of character and social nature have won him a large circle of warm friends.
