During the American Civil War, Shallenberger commissioned in the Union Army in 1862 in the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and soon afterward was appointed adjutant of the regiment. He was mustered out of the service in October 1864 and again engaged in mercantile pursuits in Rochester, Pennsylvania. He served as chairman of the Beaver County Republican committee in 1872 and 1874.
Schallenberger was also active in Baptist life.[1] He served from 1904 to 1906 as President of the Home Mission Society. He was a member of the committee that created the Northern Baptist Convention in 1907 at Washington's Calvary Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent.