 George Hansbrough (or Hansborough) owned at least one enslaved person in Taylor County in 1860.On November 8, 1851, in Rappahannock, Virginia, George Hansbrough married Mary Virginia ("Jennie") Chancellor, and they would have three daughters—Marion Wallace Hansbrough (1854-1891), Lila Ashby Hansbrough (1858-1890) and Maria A. Hansbrough (1858-1890) -- and a son Livingston Chancellor Hansbrough (1856-1916)

After graduating from the University of Virginia with a law degree, Hansbrough moved to Pruntytown, West Virginia, at the intersection of the Washington Post Road and the Fairmont-Booths Ferry Pike.He taught school and began his legal practice at the county seat of Taylor County (established 1849).