GEORGE CREAK.
George Creak, senior member of the firm of Creak, Cushing & Hodgson, chartered accountants, was born and educated in London, England. His parents were George and Maria Creak, of Clapham, London. For many years he was secretary and treasurer of the Merchants Cotton Company, began practice as a chartered accountant in 1895 and is now at the head of the above firm.
Mr. Creak is a member of the Association of Accountants of Montreal and is a fellow of the Dominion Association of Chartered Accountants. He is a Freeman of the city of London and is a member of the Goldsmiths’ Company, as were his father and grandfather before him. Mr. Creak belongs to the Anglican church and is a member of the Mount Royal Club, the Canada Club, the Art Association of Montreal, the Montreal Hunt Club, and the Board of Trade.
WILLIAM ERNEST FINDLAY.
Since entering business life William Ernest Findlay has devoted his attention uninterruptedly to the insurance profession, and his success is due to his close application, indefatigable energy and thorough understanding of every phase of the business in which he has so long been engaged. Montreal claims him as a native citizen, his birth having here occurred April 26, 1867, his parents being Captain Jonathan D. G. Findlay, R. N. and Mary (Forbes) Findlay, both now deceased. The son acquired his education in the model and private schools and, as previously stated, became connected with the insurance profession upon his entrance into business life. He was manager and inspector of the Northern Life Insurance Company and in 1906 was advanced to the position of general secretary, which he later resigned to devote his entire attention to his other interests. In his connection with the Northern Life he did much to shape the policy of the company and direct its activities, and its success is attributable in considerable measure to his efforts, sound judgment and ready understanding of the different phases of the business. He is now chief agent for Canada of the Niagara Fire Insurance Company of New York, and also for the province of Quebec for the Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company and is an authority on fire prevention and underwriting.
On the 8th of February, 1897, Mr. Findlay was married to Laura Brockwill Grier, a daughter of William Grier, of Montreal, in which city they have since resided. Mr. Findlay has an interesting military chapter in his life record, having in 1891 been appointed second lieutenant of the Sixth Regiment Fusiliers. The following year brought him advancement to the rank of captain and in 1904 he became a member of the Corps Reserve. He holds a first class certificate from the Royal School of Infantry. He is a justice of the peace and commissioner of the superior court. He is a life member of Royal Victoria Lodge, No. 57, A. F. & A. M., and a director of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. He is honorary secretary-treasurer of the Canadian branch of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and has always been much interested in athletic affairs.
WALTER NORTON EVANS.
Church activities vied with business interests in claiming the attention and energies of Walter Norton Evans, who died on the 23d of October, 1896. He was born at Wolverhampton, England, in 1837, and after pursuing his education there, came as a young man to Canada. His father, Samuel Norton Evans, also a native of England, crossed the Atlantic to the American continent and spent the last years of his life in retirement in Guelph, Ontario. In business circles Walter N. Evans made for himself a creditable place. He became cashier of the firm of Frothingham & Workman, and was one of the executives of the Thomas Workman building. His identification with the above interests covered a period of nearly a third of a century. His name became a synonym for reliability as well as energy in business circles. Men came to know that they could depend upon him, that what he promised he would do and that he would improve his opportunities not only for his own benefit but for the welfare of those things in which he was concerned.