JOSEPH ALEXANDER BLANEY

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pg. 436


JOSEPH ALEXANDER BLANEY has been closely associated with the commercial 
life of Morgantown for the past ten years. He has given freely of his time and 
influence in the promotion of worthy civic and patriotic movements.
    
Mr. Blaney is a native of Pennsylvania and was born at Whitesburg, 
Armstrong County, December 25, 1878, son of John Alexander and Minerva (Sinclair) 
Blaney.  His parents were also born in Armstrong County, each representing a pioneer 
family of Western Pennsylvania.  John Alexander Blaney was born on the Blaney homestead 
near Whitesburg in 1822, and was still living on that farm when he died
December 23, 1900.  When he always kept in close touch with his farm, he was 
for over half a century a general merchant and postmaster at Whitesburg.  His wife, 
Minerva, was born in 1841 and died in July,1913.
    
Joseph A. Blaney was born on the Blaney farm near Whitesburg, was 
educated in the public schools of that town and finished his education in Washington 
and Jefferson College.  When he left college he entered business as a partner with 
his father in the store at Whitesburg.  Later he spent some time in the
West, and when he returned home his father offered him  the complete management of the 
business at Whitesburg.  He conducted it successfully for a number of years, and at the 
same time performed the duties of postmaster.
    
In 1901, in company with eight other business men of Kittanning, 
Pennsylvania, Mr. Blaney organized what was known as the Pittsburgh & New Jersey 
Land and Improvement Company.  This syndicate acquired 2,200 acres of land in 
Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, and Mr. Blaney as secretary had charge of the enterprise 
and remained in New Jersey until the syndicate sold its holding.  He then resumed
merchandising, having sold his store and building.  For two months during the 
year of 1921 he traveled in Ohio selling shoes to the trade, but tiring of this, 
he decided to again enter merchandising, and accordingly in March, 1922, he opened 
business with a full line of shoes for men, women and children, at 316 High Street.  
He has a number of other interests, including coal mining and coal land, and is a
director of the Commercial Bank of Morgantown, and institution he helped organize.
    
Mr. Blaney is one of the prominent Masons of Morgantown.  He is 
affiliated with Morgantown Union Lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M., Chapter No. 14,  
R. A. M., Commandary No. 18,  K. T., Morgantown Lodge of Perfection No. 6 and has 
charge of the work of the eleven degrees of Scottish Rite represented in
this body, and is a member of West Virginia Consistory No. 1 and Osiris Temple of Mystic 
Shrine at Wheeling.  He is a past chancellor of Athens Lodge No. 36, Knights of 
Pythias, at Morgantown.  Mr.Blaney is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and St. Paul's 
Lutheran Church.
    June17, 1902, he married Alice Hulda Blose.  She was born at Putneyville, 
Armstrong County,Pennsylvania, daughter of William Albert and Nancy Jane (Graham) 
Blose.  The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Blaney are Russell Sydney, Harold, Judson 
Alexander, Kathryn Virginia and Kermit Blose.