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Among the enterprising and
farsighted business men of Calgary is numbered Murray H. Lister, who
since January, 1923, has been manager of Molson's Bank at Calgary. The
steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible and have in time
brought him to a prominent position in financial circles. A native of
Ontario, he was born in Almonte in January, 1880, and is a son of
Frederick A. W. and Maggie (Nichol) Lister. The father was born at St.
Johns, Newfoundland, and was a son of Amos Lister, a native of England,
whence he came to Canada as commissary general with the army and died at
St. Johns, Quebec, after having devoted his life to military service.
His son, Frederick Lister, was a man of liberal education, being a
graduate of Oxford University. He entered the Merchants Bank at Montreal
when a young man, and was in the Merchants Bank at Perth, Ontario, for
some time, later being transferred to Almonte and subsequently he was
sent to Renfrew, becoming manager for the Merchants Bank at that Place.
He continued to act in that important position to the time of his death,
which occurred in 1901, when he was sixty-four years of age. In early
manhood he wedded Maggie Nichol, who was born in Perth and is a daughter
of Dr. James Nichol, who was a graduate in medicine of the Edinburgh
University. Crossing the Atlantic he settled in Perth, Ontario, where he
engaged in the practice of his profession throughout his remaining days.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. W. Lister seven children
were born, four of whom are living: Emma, the wife of Dr. Cleary of
Ottawa; Margaret, who is living with her mother in Ottawa; F. A. M., who
is manager of the Bank of Toronto at Newmarket, Ontario; and Murray H.
The father was a member of the Church of England, to which Mrs. Lister
also belongs and his political endorsement was given to the Conservative
party.
Murray H. Lister pursued
his education in the Renfrew Collegiate Institute and thus having
received thorough advance training he entered Molson's Bank in February,
1900, at Simcoe, Ontario. Later he went to Smith's Falls, where he
remained for two years and was then transferred to the main office at
Montreal, in which he continued for a period of five years. He next took
over accountancy at Morrisburg, Ontario, where he spent two years, after
which he removed to Ottawa and was assistant accountant there for a year
and a half. In 1909 he went to Edmonton as an accountant and in 1915
took over the management of the Camrose, Alberta, branch of the
business, of which he had charge for two years. At Revelstoke, British
Columbia, he remained for a year and then in November, 1918, went to
Edmonton as manager of Molson's Bank, which position of responsibility
he occupied until January, 1923, when he was transferred to Calgary, as
manager, succeeding the late Mr. F. Macbeth, who had been manager of the
Calgary branch for over twenty years. Honored and respected by all,
there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in the financial
circles in this part of the province than does Mr. Lister, not alone by
reason of the success which he has achieved but also owing to the
straightforward and progressive business policy which he has ever
followed. He devotes practically his entire time to the bank and his
sound judgment is manifest ill the success which has attended the
institution under his direction.
In 1911 Mr. Lister was
married to Miss Robina Jane Corbett, who was born at Smith's Falls,
Ontario, and there pursued her education, after which she engaged in
teaching for two years. She afterward entered the Royal Victoria
Hospital at Montreal, where she graduated on the completion of a course
in nursing in 1910. By her marriage she has become the mother of three
children: Murray Duncan and Robina Margaret, both in school; and Mary
Helen, who is in her second year. Mr. and Mrs. Lister are members of the
Church of England and she is very active in the work of the various
church societies. Mr. Lister has attained the Royal Arch degree in
Masonry and is equally loyal as a follower of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. In politics he is an independent with leanings toward the
Conservative party. He belongs to the Board of Trade and while in
Edmonton served as chairman of its financial section. He is also a
member of the Golf & Country Club, to which he turns for needed rest and
recreation from the active duties of business. The interests and efforts
of his life, however, are well balanced, making him a man of
well-rounded character and one who is a forceful factor in the progress
and upbuilding of the section in which he makes his home. His life
illustrates what can be accomplished through individual effort and
ability and step by step he has advanced in his business career until he
now occupies an enviable position in the financial circles of Alberta. |
