“The name originated from Murren – a famous resort in Switzerland. In 1545 the family moved to Kien, Switzerland, where they became “Murners”. Gottleib Merner (1829-1923), born in Kien, immigrated to New Hamburg, Ontario at the age of seven. He married Mary Bleihm and in 1856, moved to Huron County and founded the village of Berne, now called Blake. In 1867, he moved to a farm on the Bronson Line. He and his wife, Mary, had ten children: William, Samuel, Barbara, Sarah, Jonathan, Jacob, Rebecca, George, Edward and Wesley. In 1898, Gottleib sold the farm to Jonathan, the Conservative member of Parliament for the area. Gottleib and his wife moved to Zurich.

George (1874-1938), born on the homestead, married Susanne Kraft (1875-1977) in 1899. The couple had five sons and four daughters. They were: Verne, Milford, Arnold and Luella (twins), Elgin, Louis, Verda, Margaret (Kate) and Kathleen. They lived on the homestead until 1918 when George sold the farm. He ran a hotel in Blake for a number of years. The family later moved to Dashwood. George bought the farm near Zurich on the Babylon Line on Lot 15, Con. 9. His son, Milford (Joe), lived there as a bachelor for a number of years. George drove back and forth from Dashwood to help farm the land.”

extracted from “Hay Township Highlights: 150 years of Diversified Progress, 1846 – 1996”, published by the Hay Township Book Committee under the auspices of Hay Township Council, Alice Gibb ed.; pg. 538 ISBN : 0-919939-43-0