Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Shellenberger, J. Monroe
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Doylestown M-Z


J. MONROE SHELLENBERGER attorney-at-law, P.O. Doylestown, 
Pa., was born in what is now Sellersville borough, Bucks 
county, on October 31, 1849, and is a son of Elias and 
Caroline (Cressman) Shellenberger, both natives of Bucks 
county and of Palatinate descent.  His grandfather, John L., 
owned a large tract of farm land in this county, and was a 
very prominent man in his day.  At his death, in his 92nd 
year, he left a large estate.  He was a life-long member of 
the German Reformed church, as were all his family.  He took 
a great interest in matters pertaining to the church.  Our 
subject's father for many years was general wood agent for 
the North Pennsylvania railroad, and was justice of the 
peace for twenty years, county treasurer, and is now teller 
in the Sellersville National bank, and general business 
agent, having settled as many estates as any one man in the 
upper part of the county.  At the time of his election as 
county treasurer he had twelve hundred over his opponent, 
when the average majority was in the neighborhood of six 
hundred.  In his own district he received one hundred and 
twelve votes out of one hundred and twenty-two, which shows 
that Mr. Shellenberger had a great many friends.  He is the 
father of three children:  J. Monroe, Sarah J., widow of 
John D. Danthower, who resides at Sellersville, and Elias 
C., hardware and saddlery merchant at 504 Arch street, 
Philadelphia.  Our subject remained at home until twelve 
years of age, when he went to school at Bethlehem academy, 
where he remained about four years, thence to Oley academy 
in Berks county for one year, thence to Frederick institute, 
where he prepared for Franklin and Marshall college, and 
passed examination for sophomore, but did not enter the 
college.  He then came to Doylestown and read law with 
Nathan C. James, and was admitted to the bar in February, 
1870, and has been practicing in Doylestown ever since.  In 
October , 1876, he was elected district-attorney and served 
a term of three years.  He is at present a member of the 
State Board of Public Charities, appointed by Governor 
Pattison on June 10, 1886.  He is president of the 
Doylestown agricultural and Mechanics' Institute, elected 
January, 1886.  He is one of the charter members and 
director of the Bucks County Trust company.  He has been a 
member of the Doylestown school board for three years, and 
solicitor to the county commissioners of Bucks county for 
two years.  Mr. Shellenberger is a gentleman of high honor 
and one of the leading and prominent citizens of Doylestown. 
 He was married April 14, 1875, to Caroline, daughter of 
Major John O. James, of the well-known mercantile firm of 
James, Kent, Santee & Co., Philadelphia.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Shellenberger are the parents of seven children, four of 
whom are living:  John O., Frederick, J. Monroe and George.  
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has 
passed all the chairs, and is trustee of the German Aid 
society, Doylestown, and president of the order of Sons of 
Progress.