Albert Burton Carney.—A publication of this nature exercises its most important function when it takes cognizance of the life and labors of those citizens who have risen to positions of prominence and influence through their own well directed efforts, and who have been material factors in the development of the commonwealth. In the cause of education Mr. Carney has performed a notable work, which, were it to represent the sum total of his efforts, would prove sufficient to bring recognition to any man.

Albert Burton Carney is a native Kansan and was born in Manhattan, March 24, 1869, son of Joseph and Nancy (Wagner) Carney. Joseph, Carney is a native of New York state and was born in Steuben county. He came to Kansas in 1859 and located in Manhattan, where he engaged in the milling business. In 1870 he removed to Mitchell county and became a farmer. In this occupation he was successful. He retired from active labor several years since and now resides in Beloit. Nancy (Wagner) Carney is also a native of the Empire State and was born in the historic Mohawk Valley. She taught school in Illinois for a short time and came to Kansas in 1863, making the journey from Leavenworth to Manhattan by stage, passing through Missouri during the perilous war period. Mrs. Carney organized the first graded school in Manhattan, then a village of some 400 population. She is descended from Dutch Colonial stock, of the same lineage as Senator Wagner, the inventor of he sleeping car. Two years after her arrival in Manhattan, Joseph Carney made her his wife, and of the eleven children born of this union ten are living, matured and prosperous, patriotic citizens. To this sturdy pioneer stock are we indebted for one of Kansas' illustrious sons—Albert Burton Carney, of Concordia.

Mr. Carney was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools in winter. At the age of fifteen we find him working for his board and attending school at Beloit. At eighteen he began teaching a country school near Beloit, initiating his appearance in the profession in which he has since become one of the most successful and widely known members in the state. At nineteen he became the principal of the Asherville graded schools. He graduated in the State Normal in 1892 and the following year was principal of the Jamestown schools. In 1894 he accepted the position of principal of the Concordia High School, and the following year he was made superintendent of the Concordia city schools, a position he filled until 1906, when he organized and was made president of the Concordia Normal and Business College, which important place he now holds. He is a man of keen intellect and great executive ability, and the present efficiency of the Concordia High School is due to his zeal and untiring effort. He is a forceful speaker, a lecturer of note, and is and has been for many years active in state educational and legislative affairs. In 1901 he was appointed by Governor Stanley a member of the Kansas state text book commission and continued on this commission through appointments by Governors Bailey and Hoch. He was the nominee in 1906 on the "Harris" ticket for state superintendent of public instruction. A stanch Democratic hustler, he was elected from the Sixty-first district to the state legislature in 1910, carrying twenty-four and tying one of the twenty-five precincts in a district normally Republican by 600, and winning by a majority of 700 votes. In the legislature he has been and is a worker and a doer in every sense. He was a member, during the session of 1911, of the committees on education, educational institutions, assessment and taxation and hygiene and public health. Fraternally Mr. Carney is a Mason of high standing. He is commander of Concordia Commandery, Knights Templar, the highest ranking commandery in Kansas. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, and of the Eastern Star, having served twice as worthy patron. He is a member of Concordia Lodge No. 586, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On Aug. 31, 1899, Mr. Carney married Miss Myrtle, a daughter of Joseph and Sue Latta; of Clay Center, Kan. She is a native of Ohio and a graduate of the Clay Center High School. Mrs. Carney is a woman of wide culture, a talented musician, and popular in the social life of her home city. Mr. and Mrs. Carney are the parents of four children: Alice, born May 6, 1902; Virginia, born March 24, 1905; Nancy, born Oct. 25, 1908, and Mary Latta, born Oct. 14, 1911.

Mr. Carney is in all respects a high type of the unassuming, conservative American, diligent in his duties and conscientious in all things. He is fearless, aggressive and progressive, and his ideals are high. He has been remarkably successful and this success has been obtained through methods which have been able, clean and honest. The future should have much in store for him and the citizens of his district predict his attaining state-wide prominence in a public way.