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Mr. Kuney takes an active part in the material upbuilding of Norton.
It was his persistent work that induced the city council to extend the water mains to the cemetery. Mr. Kuney is a Mason and has held continuously the office of treasurer of the lodge for the last thirteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Kuney now live in retirement but their pleasant home on State street is the scene of many brilliant social events. 
Devillo R. Blanding was born in Chautauqua county, New York, December 3 1828.
The early part of his life was spent on a farm in the county where was born. In 1852 he married Miss J. Crowell.
He afterward engaged in merchantile (sic) buisness (sic) at Forrestville, New York.
He came to Norton county in the fall of 1874 and took a homestead the north part of the county on Dry creek.
He was a man of active habits. Much of the pioneer work of Aldine township which was named by him, was inaugrauted (sic) and carried forward by him.
Few men, if any, in the county have crossed and recrossed the prairies more often than he.
He had two daughters, Alice L. who married John Brown, and Agnes Isabelle, who married G. H. Griffin.Mr. Blanding died April 3, 1886, at his home in Aldine township. His remains were brought to Norton cemetery and were laid to rest under the auspices of Norton's lodge 119 A. F & A. M. In 1887 when G. H. Griffin went to the Black Hills he left Mr. Blanding in charge of his general store in Norton. He at that time moved his family to Norton and remained here for several years after he left the employ of Griffin. He ran a meat market for a time; in 1884 he moved back to the farm on Dry creek and put in a small stock of general merchandise; shortly after this he got a post office established at his place which was named Hanback in honor of Louis Hanback, our congressman at that time. He was postmaster at the time of his death. Mrs. Blanding was then appointed and held the office one year. The office has since been discontinued. Mrs. Blanding spends a part of her time on the old farm, which she still owns, and the balance of her time with her daughter, Mrs. J. C. Brown in Norton. 
John C. Brown was born in Forrestville, New York, September 17, 1853. He was educated at the Forrestville academy and high school.
December 10, 1874 he was married at Syracuse, New York, to Miss Alice Blanding.
He engaged in the merchantile (sic) business at Forrestville. In 1881, November 10 he came to Norton county, Kansas, and has resided here continuously since.
He has been engaged in the stock business and farming more or less since he came to Kansas.J. C. Brown has taken an active part in politics since coming here. He was a member of the city council in 1886 and 1887; he was elected justice of the peace for Center township in 1888 and has held the office ever since; he was a delegate to the state convention in 1890, also in 1892. His friend brought him out |
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