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Alberta, Past and Present, Historical and Biographical
Vol 2
Murray H. Lister


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.



 


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