Charles Willis Merriam, who for more than a quarter of a century has been successfully engaged in the general insurance and real estate business in Schenectady, maintaining offices at No. 207 State street, has also figured prominently in the public life of the community and is now a member of the state assembly. His birth occurred at Waverly, Tioga county, New York, on the 5th of November, 1877, his parents being Charles E. and Jane (Wells) Merriam, who were also natives of the Empire state, the former born at Goshen, Orange county, and the latter in Brooklyn. As a young man Mr. Merriam's father embarked in the mercantile business at Goshen, while subsequently he devoted his attention to merchandising at Waverly for a period of twenty-five years and then removed to Albany, where he conducted a similar enterprise for six years. The year 1898 witnessed his arrival in Schenectady, where he spent the remainder of his life in the insurance business. He passed away on the 8th of February, 1913, being survived for five years by his wife, who died on the 28th of February, 1918.
Charles Willis Merriam obtained his early education in the public schools of Waverly, New York, spent four years as a high school student in Albany and subsequently pursued a course in the Albany Business College. It was in 1898, when a young man of twenty-one years, that he came to Schenectady and became associated with his father in the insurance business, which has claimed his time and energies continuously since. He also handles real estate and has met with a gratifying and well merited measure of success in both branches of his business. His knowledge of these lines of activity is comprehensive and exact, for his experience has been wide and varied, bringing him thorough understanding of all the different phases thereof.
On the 26th of April, 1921, Mr. Merriam was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Partch McGlashan, of Los Angeles, California, daughter of Duncan Stuart and Jessie (Partch) McGlashan, who were natives of Scotland and of Ohio, respectively. Her father, who has attained the age of seventy-three years, is a Baptist minister residing in Eckert, Colorado, but her mother departed this life in 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Merriam are the parents of twin boys: Charles Willis, Jr., and Stuart Hamilton, born March 15, 1924. Their home is at No. 20 Parkwood boulevard in Schenectady.
Mr. Merriam gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been an active worker in its local ranks. In 1907 he was chosen a member of the county board of supervisors, on which he served for ten years by repeated reelection, acting as chairman of the board in 1914, 1915, 1916 and 1917. Elected to the state assembly in the fall of 1923. and reelected in 1924, he is making a most creditable record as a member of that legislative body, giving thoughtful and earnest consideration to the vital questions which come up for settlement. His military record covers three years' service as a member of Troop B of the National Guard. During the period of the World war he was connected with the Red Cross as treasurer of the local organization, while for one year he occupied the chairmanship. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Union Presbyterian church and also belongs to the Rotary Club, the Mohawk Club and the Mohawk Golf Club. His activities have touched the various phases of life which are factors in public progress and improvement and he stands for all that is truly American in citizenship, his influence being at all times on the side of reform and advancement.