Shanesville was founded by Abraham Shane, and in 1814 one hundred lots were recorded as laid out with ten perches for a public square and street. A Lutheran church began in 1820 with Rev. Abraham Snyder, and the First Reformed Church of Shanesville was organized in 1821 by Rev. William Reiter. By 1840, Shanesville was a trading point and out-post from Pittsburgh. During the Civil War in 1861, the village volunteer militia, the Shanesville Blues, served under Captain Benjamine Ream. Shanesville Lodge No 97 K of P was formed in 1876. The community marked its centennial in 1914 and its sesqui-centennial in 1964. Shanesville was incorporated in 1902, with village officers including Mayor W. H. Baker, Marshall W. H. Burkey, Clerk R. R. Penrod, council president A. T. Miller, councilmen N. J. Troyer, J. Burrell, John Doerschuk, Ed Smith, and B. Johnson, and a fire department led by Chief Ed Smith with Chas. Andreas and John Doerschuk. In 1968, Shanesville merged with Sugarcreek, with Mayor Robert W. Schrock, Marshall Wm. Alleshouse Jr., Clerk Mrs. Ruth Menges, council president “Ike” Hostetler, councilmen Firmen Hostetler, Ferman Snyder, Gottfried von Allman, Roy Odenkirk, and Paul Schneider, a fire department headed by Chief Warner Youngen with Assist. John Garber, Captain Duane Troyer, First Lt Dean Warnes, Second Lt Dwight van Fossen, Secy George Miller, William Alleshouse, Donald Shie, and Ben Yoder, and a Board of Public Affairs consisting of Duane Troyer, John Garber, and Bill Schenk.