Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless was born on December 12, 1895, in Salisbury, North Carolina. McCanless was a manager of a farm when he registered for the draft (World War I) in June 1917. He was subsequently inducted into the army in August 1918 and served in the 5th Pioneer Infantry and the 4th Pioneer Infantry. He was honorably discharged on December 12, 1918. McCanless died in Salisbury (Rowan County) on June 19, 1955.