George F. Glossbrenner was born around 1838 in Ohio to John Glossbrenner and Elizabeth Austin. His father probably died before 1850. He grew up and attended school in Blooming Grove, Ohio. He moved to Olney, Illinois, in the 1850s, and he earned a living as a wagonmaker.
He enlisted in the Union army on April 20, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company D of the 8th Illinois Infantry five days later. According to his service records, he was 5 feet, 9 inches tall, with dark hair and blue eyes. He mustered out on July 25, 1861. He returned to the Union army on December 1, 1861, mustering in as a 1st lieutenant in Company I of the 63rd Illinois Infantry. He eventually earned a promotion to captain. He mustered out on April 9, 1865.
He settled in Preston, Illinois, after the war, and he married Annetta Bonnell on June 20, 1869. They had at least four children: Myrtle, born around 1871; Corridon, born around 1875; Pearl, born around 1877; and Guy, born around 1879. He worked as a farmer, and by 1870, he owned $3,000 of real estate and $200 of personal property. His wife died in the late 1800s. He applied for a federal pension in April 1880 and eventually secured one. He married Minnie Kaermmerling on July 4, 1899, and their son Norman was born around 1901. They returned to Olney in the early 1900s. He broke his hip in June 1910 after “falling off a high platform,” but he eventually recovered. He died in Olney on March 29, 1915.