Biographical Sketch of Dr. Joshua N. Shaneyfelt, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Dr. Joshua N. Shaneyfelt, a highly respected resident of Warrensburg, Missouri, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born August 8, 1839, in Fayette county on a farm near Perryopolis, a city which was laid out and planned after the style of Washington, D. C. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Underwood) Shaneyfelt. George Shaneyfelt was a son of Frederick Shaneyfelt, who in early manhood emigrated from Germany and settled on a tract of land near Perryopolis, where his death occurred several years later. Elizabeth (Underwood) Shaneyfelt was born in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. George Shaneyfelt were the parents of ten children: Mrs. Mary Ann Carr, who died at the age of 92 years; Charity, who died in girlhood; Elihu, who died in youth; John S., the second son also deceased; Henry S., who was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in Company H, 47th Illinois Infantry, and would have been promoted to the position of captain within a few days, when his death occurred, caused by a railroad accident while he was in active service; Rebecca; Joshua N., the subject of this review; Nathan, a Civil War veteran, serving in Company N, 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, who is now residing in Warrens- burg, Missouri; George, Baxter Springs, Kansas; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Mr. Chesler of Perryopolis, Pennsylvania. Both the father and mother died on the homestead near Perryopolis. In the public schools of Pennsylvania, Joshua N. Shaneyfelt received his early educa- tion. Later, he attended the Washington Normal School, Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Iron City Commercial College, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was a student at the business college after the Civil War, in which he enlisted October 16, 1862, serving in Company B, 5th division of the 18th corps, 168th Pennsylvania Infantry, of which he was a musician. His regiment was encamped at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, from which place they were ordered to Norfolk, Virginia, thence to Washington, D. C., and to Newbern, North Carolina, where they construc- ted a fort and remained throughout the winter of 1862 guarding the battery at Fredericktown. At one time this regiment was sent after General Lee, the great Southern commander. Mr. Shaneyfelt made out the discharges for his company. He himself, was discharged from service at Harrisburg, July 23, 1863. After receiving his honorable discharge from the army, Mr. Shaneyfelt was a student in the commercial school. He was then engaged in teaching penmanship and followed that vocation in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri for a period of six years, after which he began the study of dentistry, serving as an apprentice in the office of a highly reputable dentist, as dental colleges had not yet been established. In 1875, he began the practice of dentristry at Hendrysburg, Ohio. Five years later, in 1880, he came to Missouri, where his dental office was located for eight years, in Sedalia and then in Eldorado Springs for seven years. From Eldorado Springs he returned to Sedalia, where he purchased a farm and for sev- eral years was engaged in improving this place, which he afterward sold. Mr. Shaneyfelt then moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he remained nine months, and from Springfield to Kansas City, where he resided for about four months, coming thence to Warrensburg about six- teen years ago, in which city he has since resided. Joshua N. Shaney- felt still does some practice in dentistry, frequently making plates, but he no longer fills cavities or does any extracting of teeth, as he desires to retire from dental work. October 20, 1874, Joshua N. Shaneyfelt and Harriet Ann Harris were united in marriage in Pennsyl- vania. Harriet Ann (Harris) Shaneyfelt is the daughter of Jacob Harris Jr., who was a son of Jacob Harris, Sr., one of the first of the Coloniel settlers of Pennsylvania. Jacob Harris, Sr., entered the tract of land from the government, which later became the site of Perryopolis. George Washington had originally purchased the land from the Indians. Mr. Shaneyfelt has in his possession a picture of an old mill, which was erected in Perryopolis by the great general. He also has a splendid view of the old town. About six years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Shaneyfelt visited the old homestead in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Shaneyfelt is the only living member of the family of children born to her parents. The Shaneyfelt residence in Warrensburg is located at 343 East Market street. For many years, Joshua N. Shaneyfelt was engaged in teaching penmanship. From boyhood days, he has been especially skilled in this art and at college took a course in penmanship. Specimens of his excellent work in this line are framed and in glass cases, where they can be seen at his home. The skill manifested in his drawings of birds and in his pen and ink sketches can not be excelled and it is to be questioned if the art shown can be equalled. Mr. and Mrs. Shaneyfelt are numbered among the best families of Johnson county. Quiet, unob- trusive, and refined, they are enjoying the peacefulness of their home life, their church relations, and their countless friendships. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================