On November 8, 1798, John Janney was born in Alexandria, Virginia, to Elisha and Mary Janney. The Janneys were members of the religious denomination of Friends or Quakers. Janney obtained little formal education, instead going to work at his father's mill. He later left the mill to study law, and at the age of eighteen, he entered the Bar in Loudoun County. On January 26, 1826, Janney married Alcinda (Alice) Marmaduke. When separated, they wrote almost daily letters to one another.

Janney became a respected lawyer and in 1850 he represented Loudoun County at the Virginia Constitutional Convention. Janney also served his state when he accepted the position as President of the Virginia Secession Convention in 1861. As a strong Whig and Unionist, Janney fought against secession and voted against it twice. When secession finally passed, Janney embraced it fully. He signed the Ordinance of Secession and formally appointed Robert E. Lee as commander of military forces of Virginia. Janney continued to serve as a lawyer in Loudoun until his death in 1872.

Charles Janney, nephew of John Janney, was born May 27, 1839 to James and Rebecca Janney. Charles Janney attended the Benjamin Hallowell School in Alexandria, Virginia until his eighteenth birthday. After graduation, Janney worked at his father's flour mill while also studying the law. Janney ran for office and was elected clerk of the county court for Loudoun and served in that position until he entered the Bar in 1871. In 1921, he was elected as mayor of Leesburg and served for two years.

Charles Janney married Nannie Lee Pollock on November 23, 1868. They had eight children: Thomas, Rebecca, Lilas, Charles P., A.D. Pollock, Phillip, Nannie, and John.