George Wells Janney (1 September 1821-26 October 1873) was born near Hamilton, Virginia to John Janney (1788-1850) and Susan Wells Janney (1790-1822). His father was a storekeeper and businessman with stores in Hamilton and Evansville (in what is now West Virginia). Janney joined his father in business, and in the 1840s they began businesses in Gainsboro, VA, Wardensville, VA (now WV), and Berlin (now Brunswick), Maryland. Janney traded in agricultural products, such as guano, farm implements, and seed, as well as dry goods like fabric, household items, and hardware. He bought much of his supply of goods from merchants in Baltimore, and spent considerable time there.

He married Mary Compher (1822-1913), from the Lovettsville area, on 31 December 1844. He had been courting her for some time, but Mary's mother did not approve of the match and the couple eloped to Frederick, MD. The Janneys had seven children, including John Compher Janney (1851-1880) who became a treasurer of the town of Hamilton.

Janney's father died in 1850, leaving him to administer his estate and take over operations of all the businesses. Janney appears to have sold his father's interest in the Evansville store, but continued to maintain the Hamilton store. His family moved house with some regularity, living in Hamilton, Barry (MD), Berlin (MD), and Baltimore (MD). In the 1850s he served as an officer in the Loudoun and Berlin Bridge Company; Janney was appointed postmaster of Barry, MD in 1851 and Hamilton in 1859.

He did not serve in the Civil War, but his sympathies were with the Confederacy. When the Confederate government reappointed postmasters in Loudoun County, Janney kept his position in Hamilton. He did occasionally own slaves, but they usually came to his household as part of a business transaction with someone liquidating his estate or paying debts to Janney, who would then sell them quickly. Janney regularly hired slaves from nearby farms when he needed labor or household help. Despite his known sympathies and trade with the Confederate forces, Janney was able to secure passes from the US Provost Marshal to cross the Potomac River at Point of Rocks, MD, and engaged in trade with the US Army. In 1863 he signed an oath of allegiance to the United States, which he reaffirmed at the conclusion of the Civil War.

After the Civil War, Janney's business ventures saw continued success. He began working with partners in many of his stores. The store in Hamilton was known as Janney & Slaymaker as well as VanDevanter & Janney; a business in Baltimore was known first as Ridenour, Janney & Co., then Janney, Jordan & Co. He invested in a real estate venture in Pana, Illinois. Janney was an active member of the International Order of Odd Fellows and a founding member of the Hamilton-Thompson Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. At their organizational meeting on 5 May 1868, Janney was appointed "Worshipful Master."

Janney died unexpectedly, after a short illness, while in Baltimore on 26 October 1873. His wife, Mary, lived until 1913. They are both buried in Union Cemetery in Leesburg.