Charles M. Black

Thorough preparatory training and broadening experience well qualify Charles M. Black for the important and responsible duties that devolve upon him as secretary and treasurer of the insurance brokerage firm of R. Howard & Company of Montreal. He has many friends in this city, to whom his life record will prove of interest. He was born in Winnipeg in 1890, a son of William Allan Black and a grandson of Charles R. and Elizabeth (Hall) Black, of Montreal. There is a mingled strain of English and Scotch blood in his veins. The birth of William A. Black occurred in Montreal, November 17, 1862. His education was acquired in the schools of his native city, and for some years he was in the service of the Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific Railway Companies. In 1882 he went to Manitoba and the following year became connected with the Ogilvie Milling Company, one of the foremost enterprises of that character in the country. Gradually in that connection he worked his way upward and in 1902 was appointed general manager of the western division, while in 1910 he was elected one of the directors of the company. Still further promotion has come to him in his election as vice president and managing director of the Ogilvie Flour Mills Company. He is likewise a member of the Winnipeg Board of Trade, a councillor of the Winnipeg Grain and Produce Exchange and a member of the grain survey and grain standard boards. He is likewise a director of the Home Savings & Investment Company, Molson’s Bank and Larose Consolidated Mines and is managing director of the Kaministiquia Power Company and president of the Manitoba Cold Storage Company. He belongs to the Winnipeg and Manitoba Clubs. He was married in 1888 to Mary Campbell, daughter of Alexander McEwan, of Edinburgh, Scotland.

The illustrious example of his father has fired the ambition of Charles M. Black, who was reared in Montreal and Winnipeg. Making good use of time, talents and opportunities, he has steadily progressed and is today a well known factor in insurance brokerage circles of Montreal. The business of the firm of R. Howard & Company was established in 1901 and was organized under the present firm style on the 1st of February, 1913, when Charles M. Black became a member of the firm, of which he has since been secretary and treasurer, with Robert Howard as the president. He had received thorough initial business training in three years’ connection with his father, and he is also secretary and treasurer of the Financial Investment Company. A young man of determination and energy, he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and obstacles and difficulties in his path serve but as an impetus for renewed effort on his part.