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I Several years ago the Huntsville Forester did a series of articles on the early life or history of the surrounding communities. I was asked to do a story on Kearney, and it proved a most interesting assignment. I had access to notes by Chester McConkey, Mrs. Robt. Mason, Mrs. D. Mitchell and Harry Travis. I interviewed as many as I could of the early settlers, and whole stories could have been written of some of . the families. Indeed, Mrs. Harkness has written a story of her family, the Oltons, which is a well written account of their early life in the Sand Lake section. ' That story will be the basis for this one, with added interviews with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Groom, Mrs. H. Hurd, Mrs. Harkness, and Geo. Mason. There is no doubt that other interviews would have pro- duced interesting happenings, but even on material I have on hand, space will not permit lengthy elaborations. I will perhaps miss names that should have been included, and omit events that were interesting. I have tried from these notes, and a little from my own memory to write a short history that would be interesting. Since the first story was written many have passed on, to read the story it appears the old timers are dropping fast. There have been fires that destroyed well known buildings. Many have been added. For this book the story of the Catholic Church has been written by Father Weis; of the Anglican by Mrs. H. Shaw; of Knox United by Mrs. G. Leeder; of the Community Centre by David Somerville, and the Womens' Institute by Mrs. Reg. Franklin. Among us, we have tried to cover as much as possible of this area since the first people came in, per- haps 1876, and we are pleased to dedicate it to the memory of the people who first came to this area, and by their courage, devotion and unselfish- ness established a new part of Canada. RALPH BICE