Caney, one of the four important towns of Montgomery county, is located near the Oklahoma line at the junction of the Missouri Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., 20 miles southwest of Independence, the county seat. It is in the gas belt and has grown very rapidly, especially in the past ten years, during which time it has trebled its population. It has a good system of waterworks and an efficient fire department. The combined output of the gas wells in the vicinity is 175,000,000 cubic feet per day. The largest oil tank farm in the state is located near here. It covers 800 acres. The manufacturing interests in Caney include 2 large glass factories, a brick and tile works, a large zinc smelter and an oil refinery. There are 2 banks, an ice and cold storage plant, 3 public school buildings, a public library, 2 weekly newspapers (the Chronicle and the News), telegraph and express offices and an international money order postoffice with one rural route. The town was incorporated in 1905. About this time it received extensive advertising throughout the whole nation on account of a gas well which took fire and burned furiously for several months. Tourists, many of whom were from distant states, flooded the town to view the immense flames, the roaring of which could be heard for miles. According to the census of 1910 the population of Caney was 3,597.

The first store in Caney was opened by Dr. J. W. Bell in 1869. A genera! merchandise store was established by O. M. Smith in 1870. A mail route was established in that year which enabled the settlers to get their mail regularly. The town was laid out and a number of business enterprises started. The first newspaper (the Caney Chronicle) was started in 1885. Caney was organized and incorporated as a city of the third class in 1887. The first officers were: Mayor, P. S. Hollingsworth; police judge, F. H. Hooker; clerk, F. H. Dye; councilmen, William Rodgers, Harry Wiltse, J. J. Hemphill, J. A. Summer and W. B. Williams. The first railroad reached Caney about 1887.