A Narrative History
of
The People of Iowa
with
SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN
EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS, ETC.
by
EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M.
Curator of the
Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa
Volume IV
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.
Chicago and New York
1931

CHARLES I. MERRICK, division manager of the Iowa Railway & Light Corporation
at Nevada, is a graduate of Iowa State College at Ames, and is an engineer.
He had a notable service in the Aviation Corps overseas during the World
war, and is one of the very prominent men who have come into the life of Iowa
with the background of the World war.

Mr. Merrick was born in Eldora, Iowa, October 27, 1893, son of Irwin H. and
Minnie (Brooks) Merrick. His father, a native of Tioga County,
Pennsylvania, came out to Iowa and settled at Eldora in 1871, and is still living there,
after many years of life as a farmer. His wife was born in Grundy County, Iowa, daughter
of William J. Brooks, a farmer, who came to Iowa from Monmouth, Illinois.

Charles I. Merrick attended grade and high schools at Eldora, and spent five
years in Iowa State College at Ames, taking the electrical and mechanical
engineering courses. He was graduated May 22, 1917, and almost immediately
joined the Aviation Corps, having his ground training at the University of
Illinois, at Champaign, and eight weeks later was sent to Fort Wood, New York, and
on July 18 went overseas. He was in the French flying schools, was
transferred to the American school at Issoudun, again was transferred to the French
school on March 12, 1918, was located at Paris, where he remained until May 1.
He was then put with the Ninety-fourth Squadron, the first American unit,
and on June 18 was transferred to the One Hundred and Third Pursuit Squadron,
formerly the La Fayette Escadrille. He was on active duty over the lines
with this squadron until August 28, when he was transferred to the Twenty-eighth
Squadron in the St. Mihiel sector, being made flight commander and second in
command of the Twenty-eighth. On October 20 he was transferred to the
headquarters of the Third Pursuit Group and later was detached and as a casual
ordered to the depot at Issoudun. While in the air as an American pilot he
brought down three enemy planes, lacking only two to achieve the coveted
distinction of being an American Ace.

Mr. Merrick was honorably discharged February 10, 1918, at Garden City, Long
Island, and soon afterward returned to Eldora, Iowa, and entered the service
of the Iowa Railway & Light Corporation as an engineer, where he remained
only a few months. In July, 1919, he went to Kansas City, Missouri, to become
industrial engineer, for the Kansas City Power & Light Company, where he
remained until May, 1922. At that time he returned to Ames where he engaged in
the manufacturing business for two years. In 1924 he was made division
manager of the Iowa Railway & Light Corporation with headquarters at Nevada.
Lieutenant Merrick is a member of the American Legion, Rotary Club and Commercial
Club. He holds a commission as first lieutenant in the Officers Reserve
Corps.

He married Miss Norma Lee at Ames on December 31, 1919. Her father, C. G.
Lee, is an Ames Attorney. They have two children, James Lee, born at Kansas
City, September 17, 1920, and Mary Ann, born May 1, 1924, at Ames, Iowa.


Debbie Clough Gerischer
Iowa History Project
Scott County, Iowa