From:  One Hundred Years Along the Upper Grand 1881-1981, a History of
          East Luther Township. by Esther E. Graham

The McMurchy Family

Malcolm McMurchy came to the community in 1854.  He was one of the first 
settlers.  His family came from Tarbert Scotland, hence the name Tarbert.  
Malcohn married Kate Reid of Erin Township and they settled on the 7th line, 
Lot 29, East Luther, later owned by Stan Potter.  The first schoolhouse was 
built on this farm.  The McClellands owned the farm adjoining to the East, 
200 acres, later owned by John Woods, Thomas Bates, Joseph Ritchie, W. West, 
Karl Sedgwick and George Landman.  Most people lived in log cabins; the 
frame, brick and stone houses came later.  They cleared their land, making 
tiny fields to begin with and tilled them with oxen.  Worship services meant 
a lot to the early pioneers and also provided a spot where they could get 
together socially with neighbours who sometimes lived quite a distance away.
Malcolm and Kate had nine children; Alexander, Katherine, Flora, Belle, 
Malcolm, George, Mary, Maggie and Sarah.  Malcolm operated the first post 
office on his farm.

Katherine was born July 6, 1855 and was the first white child born in this 
community.  In 1875 she married James Tyner.  Belle McMurchy trained in an 
American hospital and became a Registered Nurse, working for many years as 
assistant superintendent at the hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (1891).  
She was born in 1861 and was the first girl in the community to become a 
nurse.  She received her elementary education in the schoolhouse which was 
situated on the property where the Tarbert -United Church stood.