William J. Hanson was born in Malden District, Kanawha County, WV on August 31, 1907, was the son of Jersey B. and Annie F. Skyles Hanson and the grandson of Charles A. and Octavia Hanson. Mr. Hanson attended school in Kanawha County. After his school days were over, Mr. Hanson worked various jobs before going to Cincinnati, Ohio to become a meat cutter for the Kroger Co. Mr. Hanson moved back to Charleston and opened a grocery store and a poolroom on Piedmont Road in Charleston. He also owned several pieces of rental property. In 1952, Mr. Hanson bought property on Rocky Step Road in Scott Depot, Putnam County, WV where he lived until his death at the age of 77 years. Mr. Hanson was married to Stella Daugherty on September 25, 1927. Miss Daugherty was born on September 4, 1905 and was the daughter of Lawrence D. and Myrtle Daugherty. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, the following children were born; Richard L., who married Ida Blanche Morris and have five children; Charles W. who married Joyce Landers and have three children; William F. who married Lillie Sue Trent and have two children; Earl T. who married Georgia Ellis and have five children; James B. who married Mae Richards and have two children; and Robert A. who married Annette Cartmill and had one child. Mr. Hanson was very active in local Democratic politics and was elected as a Justice of the Peace from 1966 to 1972, serving Scott District, Putnam County. Mr. Hanson was a Methodist, and after his retirement from his businesses in Charleston he enjoyed farming and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was buried in the Hanson Family Cemetery on June 14, 1985.