Robert John Schweninger
Silver Bow County
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

The mining industry has attracted to its ranks men of the 
keenest intellect and most comprehensive business ability, 
the rewards possible to gain in this line of endeavor being 
a strong inducement to one who has energy and ambition of 
unusual degree.  At the enter of one of the richest mining 
districts, Butte has its full quota of successful mining 
operators, which must be mentioned Mr. Robert John Schweninger, 
who came here in 1887 and has ever since been engaged in mining.

Mr. Schweninger has spared no effort to equip himself with 
all possible knowledge by study and travel that would 
enable him to take his place as one of the most dependable 
mining experts of the country and his present influential 
position in the industry is the direct result of years of 
persevering application to the study of the subject.  His 
early education embraced work in the public schools, 
including high school, and a course in a business college 
at Painesville Ohio and this he supplemented later on 
with four years of personal study and experimentation 
in chemistry and assaying in order that he might gain 
the fullest possible knowledge of metals and ores.  Mr. 
Schweninger followed the trade of cabinet maker and 
upholsterer and spent twelve years in that line of 
business.  He maintains an establishment in Butte, 
with offices and headquarters here.

Mr. Schwninger is a born manager of men and know how to 
inspire their respect and confidence.  As his name 
indicates, Mr. Schwneinger is of German extraction.  
He was born in New York City, November 17, 1860, the 
son of John George and Caroline Schweninger, both of 
whom were born in Germany.  They came to New York 
when young and were married in that state, lived 
there for a period then went to Cleveland Ohio and 
finally settled at Painesville in the same state 
and spent the remainder of their days there.  The 
father was a man of wide travel and had a fine 
education, his ability as a linguist being especially 
marked.  He was master of nine different languages and 
during his residence in New York acted as interpreter 
for various foreign people in that city.  His 
commercial and industrial activities in New York 
embraced the sale and manufacture of furniture and 
he also did some work as an architect.  He reared a 
family of five children, the subject of this sketch 
having been second in order of birth.  Robert John 
was six years old when the family moved to Cleveland 
and remained there one year before finally settling 
in Butte.