Born in New Palestine, Hancock, Indiana on September 4 1863. He claimed his right to membership through his father Conrad H. Shellhouse. His father served in Company "I", Eighth Indiana Volunteers (Three Month), as a First Lieutenant in Company D, 106th Indiana Volunteer Infantry ( 8 Days ) and Company "I" Twenty-Sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

Mr. Shellhouse worked for many years for the Pennsylvania Railroad freight office in Indianapolis, Indiana and in 1901 he established the Shellhouse Fireproof Fireproof Warehouse Company. Mr. Shellhouse built the first fireproof household storage warehouse in Indiana in 1910 at Central and 25th Streets. He was President; Earl McLaughlin, Vice President, and W.A.Singleton secretary and treasurer.

He was elected Department of Indiana Commander in 1914, at Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. And was elected Commander-in-Chief 9-24-29-1922 at Des Moines, Iowa. He died 16 October 1942, Methodist Hospital, in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Section 39, Lot 313, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana.

Mr. Shellhouse was a member of the Knights of Pythias, in the uniform rank of which he was colonel; Masonic Center Lodge, Murat Shrine and Elks Lodge No. 13. He also was member of All Souls Unitarian Church. His sister Mrs. Margaret Heiny of Denver Colorado survived him.