Rienzi Rush Shank

As printed in 1909

RIENZI RUSH SHANK, M. D.

Dr. Rienzi Rush Shank, a prominent and successful medical practitioner of Montgomery county, located at Trotwood, was born in this city on the lath day of December, 1869, his parents being Dr. A. M. and Delilah (Fry) Shank, while the paternal grandparents were Dr. Peter and Mary (Miller) Shank. The grandfather was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, and when a young man drove across the country in a wagon, settling on a section of land in Jefferson township, Montgomery county, Ohio. At the time of his demise, which occurred in Dayton, Ohio, he was about ninety years of age and was laid to rest in Jefferson township. The grandmother was called to her final rest in 1859 and her remains were likewise interred in Jefferson township.

Dr. A. M. Shank, the father of our subject, was born near Frytown, in Jefferson township, and subsequently took up his above in Stringtown and later in Trotwood, which was a swamp at the time of his arrival. In his early manhood he followed the profession of school teaching but for thirty-six years was numbered among the leading and successful physicians here, being a graduate of the Medical College of Ohio. His family numbered eight children, namely: Ambrose E., a resident of Trotwood; Ulysses S., of Lynchburg, Ohio; Rienzi Rush, of this review; Lon O., of Dayton; Iona, deceased; and three who died in infancy.

Dr. R. R. Shank supplemented his preliminary education, acquired in the schools of Trotwmod and Dayton, by a course in the old Central high school, from which he w'as graduated. Subsequently he was engaged in teaching in Madison township for a period of four years and for two years followed that profession in the Trotwood high school, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. In 1896 he entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati and after graduating from that institution he came at once to Trotwood, Ohio, having since been numbered among the well known and prosperous representatives of his calling in this county. He keeps in touch with the onward march of the profession through his membership in the Montgomery County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Association and the American

Medical Association and that he is an able and skilled practitioner is indicated in the large patronage that is accorded him. He also has a creditable military record, having served as medical corps man under Colonel Hunt, of Cincinnati, in the Spanish-American war. He was honorably discharged at Huntsville and now belongs to the Spanish-American War Veterans.

On the 12th of June, 1900, Dr. Shank was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Spitler, of Perry township, a daughter of Ephraim E. and Jennie (Worley) Spitler, and a member of a very prominent old family of the state. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Shank have been born four children: Catharine E., Paul T., Alberta L. and John T.

Fraternally Dr. Shank is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America at Trotwood; Iola Lodge, K. P., of Dayton; and the Odd Fellows lodge No. 754, in which he has passed through all of the chairs and is now past grand master. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity at Brookville, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church of Trotwood. Both he and his wife are members of prominent and well known old families of the county and throughout the long period of their residence here they have gained the kindly regard and esteem of those with whom they have come in contact.

As printed in History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.