Mrs. Sophie Mertz, widow of Elias Mertz, died in January, 1911, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James S. Biery. No 248 North Fourth Street. The end came peacefully after a long life well spent in doing good. Mrs. Mertz was one of the old residents, having been almost 94 years old. She was very active until July 1908 and did her house work, visited and received visitors, attended services in her church, Trinity United Evangelical, and was in fill possession of all her faculties, her sight and hearing being very goods her memory retentive and her mind clear.

Mrs. Mertz was born August 17, 1817, at Wescoesville, in Lower Macungie Township. Her parents were Christopher and Catharine (Ueberoth) Bortz. She married Elias Mertz. 75 years ago.

Mrs. Mertz was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at the Salisbury Church but soon after moving to Allentown she connected with Salem Evangelical Church transferring to Trinity United Evangelical after the disruption of 1894. She was a faithful wife, mother and neighbor, and was a Christian in every sense of the word, striving by counsel and deed, by word and example to exemplify the light that shone within her. She exerted a pure, wholesome influence on those who came in contact with her. She leaves to her posterity a rich legacy of life well spent that is well worthy of their emulation.