EARL W. MARTIN, who is a skilled optometrist and who is established in the successful practice of his profession at Carroll, judicial center of Carroll County, has crowded many and varied experiences into his life, though he is but little more than forty years of age, and among those experiences was his representation of his native State of Iowa in loyal overseas service in the World war.

Doctor Martin was born at Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa, October 5, 1886, and is a son of Charles B. and Anna (Gilbert) Martin, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter of whom was born and reared in Taylor County, Iowa, where her parents were sterling pioneers. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Martin was solemnized in 1885, and he was for many years one of the substantial representatives of farm industry in Union County, this state. Charles B. Martin, now venerable in years, is living retired in the State of Tennessee, his wife being deceased.

Dr. Earl W. martin was reared on the home farm in Union County and supplemented the discipline of the district school by completing a course in the high school at Afton, that county, in which he was graduated in 1908, as the only graduate of that year. He thereafter clerked in a jewelry store at Afton and there learned the trade of watchmaker, besides studying and gaining practical experience in optometry. he perfected himself in the trade of watchmaker and jeweler by taking a course in the Bradley Polytechnic School at Peoria, Illinois, and thereafter he worked at his trade at Bloomington, that state. He finally enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, in which he served four years, his experiences in this connection having included his visitation of
all important world ports and his being under fire when his unit was sent to Nicaragua to assist in quelling insurrection in that Central American area, he having there remained with his command during an interval of three days. After receiving his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps Doctor Martin bought a jewelry store and stock at New Market, Iowa, and this enterprise he conducted four years, or until he volunteered for World war service. August 27, 1917, he entered the officers training camp at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and on the 27th of the following November he there received commission as first lieutenant. He embarked for overseas service January 11, 1918, and in the meanwhile had been transferred to the air service. With his air unit he landed at Brest, France, January 24, thence was sent to Saint Maxiant, where he was stationed two months, at the expiration of which he was transferred to the Third Aviation Instruction Center, at Issodun. July 4, 1918, marked his transference to the First Supply Depot, in the City of Paris, and within a short time thereafter he went to the front lines as a member of the Ninety-third Air Squadron, his service at the front having continued from August 2 until the armistice brought the war to a close. Doctor Martin was ordered home February 8, 1919, landed in Philadelphia February 21, and at Camp Dix, New Jersey, he received his honorable discharge two days later.

After the conclusion of his World war service Doctor Martin returned to New Market, Iowa, and after there closing out his stock of jewelry he proceeded to Chicago and entered the Northern Illinois College of Optometry. In that institution he was graduated July 14, 1919, and during the ensuing five months he was engaged in the practice of his profession at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Since April 27, 1920, the Doctor has been established in practice at Carroll, where he has developed a substantial and prosperous professional business.

Doctor Martin is a Republican in political adherency, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in his home community he has membership in the Commercial Club, the Rotary Club and the Carroll Country Club. He is affiliated with the American Legion, and his Masonic affiliations are as here noted: Signet Lodge No. 264, A. F. and A. M.; Capstone Chapter No. 78, R. A. M.; Cryptic Council No. 38, R. and S. M. Both he and his wife have membership in the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and they are
popular factors in the representative social life of their home city.

November 10, 1914, marked the marriage of Doctor Martin to Miss Lenna Harris, of New Market, this state, and they have three children: John Earl, born September 12, 1917; Margaret Ruth, born April 5, 1923, and Dorothy Lou, born October 13, 1924.