Evening journal., 1896-08-07
WAS LOT YEARS OLD.
Death OF Aunt Phyllis Msr-
hered, Born in 1880.
RIMtMBsRID HEROES OF l77s.

New Castles CoIored Centonarian Died
Early Laet Evening Oatlived Several
Generations-Kopt Well Uotli rhis sun
Large Funeral Expected onsuudas.
Ne Castles celebrated centepariap.
the eighteenth century colored woman
who has bten polluted out to visitors for
the past five years as remarkable
example Of longevit,, Is dead Aunt
Pny Ills Merhered died at - clock o. the
little home queR'bed to her or North
Fifth street by the lAte William Herbert
out OF respect 10 her long lie.
According TO her well thunbed Bible
and accounts from we'll known families
about town, Mrs Merhered was born In
1883 during the administration OF PresI
dent George Washington. Her maiden
name WAS Hardin and she WAS born q
slave ia the family Of Howkid Oxle, l.,
and Nancy Ogle on the plantation jast
outside OF Newark. Sho has sesn four
generations OF the o sle family h,urlsh.
She continued as a slave until 80 years
0 d, bsiog prohibited from marrying be-
cause OF hsr usefulness In the house
Then she married EjjAh Msrhered aud
aud their u ion resulted IN Eve children
Arthur. born Ia 1880 aud now living In
New Osstle; Samuel. who died at New
CASTLE May 20. 1896; El zAbeth, mother
OF Joshuk MerDeied OF New Castle, and
Who died In 1916 during tho Mexican
war NJ jah, Jr who died In 1874.
Sixty years sgc, Mrs Merhered then q
widow and free, moved her family from
Newark to New Castle aud went to live
with the family II Dr. Cooper Later
she was one or the housekeepers for
Samuel Cooper
Jesse C3ek, one OF the oldest colored
residents hsre removed TO New Castle
about forty years ago and declares that
At that time Mrs Merhered totteftd and
looked as old rs on the day OF her death
One could easily tell that tho woman
was exceedingly eyed from the deep snd
nu'titudiuous lines ia her face, the pc
culiar ashen cast and the faltering and
cas ping voice.
Mrs Merhered recently told an
EVENING JOURNAL reporter that she was
Dig enough 10 gear horse and milk
cows duiing 'the war with Englaud,n
but she must have meant the war OF 1912
when, OF oourss. she was a grown woman,
Her recollection Of celebrated Delaware
Families was remarkably clear and in
seresting until last winter when all her
ithhch uoChmc blmoHuob olm
Or late, her eldest son, Artbur-hIm
self an old man-Hnd his son Johu,
% years old have been taking care OF tho
bid woman In the little homo provided
for he1 b Mr. Herbert
Rev. James NJ. Wise remembers dis
tluctly how the old woman, always pious
md prayerfu', used TO do evangelical
york among tho boys Of his days aud be
remembers many prayers that she has
offered fer him Even In his childhood
md youth Mra Merhertd was looked
upon as one OF the Oldest women in town
Dr. j. J. Blacks certificate states that
Mre. Merhersd died OF senile debility at
che age Of lO7 that she WAS q widow and
nstlvU- born DelGwarean. Before her
recent illness Mrs Merhered expressed a
desire TO b. ''tRBen home TO Heaven"
sircs living had become eueh burden
Her funeral will probably be the
largest OF the year. IL will take place
IN Sunday b tween and ? o'clock from
aer lEte home, No. % North Fifth street
Services will bs held in Union A. M. e
Church Of which she has been a member
ince IL was founded Ia little frame
neeliog house