The following obituary was taken from the Cumberland Times newspaper the Wednesday morning edition - February 10, 1886: "Another Good Citizen Gone"
"Frederick Mertens, a pioneer boat builder, died at 2:00, a prominent citizen of Cumberland died at the head of Balto St. after a short illness at 62 years of age. Just before Christmas he contracted a very severe cold, which confined him to his home ever since, until on Sunday morning, when the day being so pleasant, he went over on W. side to call on friends, and it is thought that he contracted more cold.
On Monday he was taken suddenly ill with congestion of the lungs and grew rapidly worse. He leaves a widow and six children: John, Henry,and Edward; Frederick, William and one daughter, Emma, All of whom are unmarried and reside at home, except the eldest son Frederick. His entire family and several friends were with him when he died.
Mr. Mertens was born in the city of Hamburg, Germany on the 13th day of June in the year 1824. There he entered and learned the trade of shipbuilding with his uncle, which trade he followed until he was 18 years old, when he took charge of one of his uncle's ships, as boss ship carpenter, sailing from Hamburg to South America and New York. He followed the sea for three years and at the expiration of that time went to Hollisdayburg, PA and entered a boat yard of an uncle in that place. He remained there for a year and then went to St. Louis where he remained for a year, returning to Hollisdayburg, he was again engaged for a short period of time in his uncle's boatyard.
He came to Cumberland on a visit in July 1851, and in May of the next year and located. After remaining here for six months, he went to Hamburg for a visit of 10 weeks.
He originally commenced the business of boat building in this city in May 1852 above the chain bridge at the foot of Balto. Street which by his ability and good management has been successfully carried on ever since.
His boat yard in S. Cumberland fully covers 3 acres and comprises every necessary application for canal boat building, steam for bending heavy timbers and carpenter shops. Forty to fifty men found constant employment under Mr. Mertens and in busy times there numbers were increased. It was mainly his business to build boats for sale, but is in the nature of things that he owned considerable shares in a large number of boats. He was also extensively engaged in the lumber business and in shipment of coal and in the mining business.
Coming from that good old Fatherland stock, to which the community is indebted for some of the best energy, wisdom,thrift and steadiness, Mr. Mertens was gifted with those qualities in a marked degree. And from a very modest beginning, he built up trade so widespread and important, and developed industries so manifold and beneficial, that this loss will indeed fall very heavy.
In the peculiarity of certain characters that they never remain long in subordinate positions, Mr. Mertens began his business among the rank and file of that branch of labor which he had so fitly headed at the time of his death.
He was a prominent democrat, but never held any office except that of the city council, which he served faithfully for several terms.
He was a director in the third National bank, and has been ever since its organization.
He has twice visited his native city of Hamburg, since his residence in this city and on his last trip was accompanied by fourth son, John. It is impossible to pay proper tribute to Mr. Mertens worth as a citizen and a man in do brief a space as this. This loss which the community has sustained is sufficiently expressed by our citizens themselves.