John Blaney was born in Lanark, Scotland, in 1855. He emigrated to Pittsburgh, where he worked as a gardener and got married. He moved to California where he accompanied the Thomas family to Maple Ridge on account of the good fishing.
In 1886 he was living in Yennadon with his wife and three children; David, Jessie and Margaret.
John was on the South Lillooet School Board in 1902, and was Reeve of the district in 1903, 1905 and 1906.
Mrs. Blaney died in 1905, and in 1908, John moved to Pitt Meadows. He farmed about 25-30 acres and took extra jobs, such as road clearance, from time to time. John became the first Reeve of Pitt Meadows in 1914 and also served as Councillor.
John died in his nineties in 1948 and is buried in the Maple Ridge Cemetery.
