Filley Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: A0487

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Papers consist mainly of correspondence of Oliver D. and Giles F. Filley to their family in Connecticut, relating to early ventures in the tin and stove manufacturing business. Giles F. Filley's firm, the Excelsior Manufacturing Company, made the famous "Charter Oak" cooking stove. Also includes records pertaining to affairs and public service of Chauncey Ives Filley. These include Chauncey I. Filley's letterbook, 1862, containing only two letters, one of which discusses railway routes between St. Louis and Little Rock and Bismarck and Little Rock, and map of Berkshire Hills, Massachusetts. Also includes personal record book of Augustus Filley, 1874-1818, with information on the Filley family in Windsor, Connecticut, and other genealogical information. This collection contains much of political interest as well as social sidelights on St. Louis history, including data on James O. Broadhead, the Chartrand family, the Civil War, Gen. John B. Clark, the constitutional convention of 1865, the Eads Bridge, James A. Garfield, Samuel T. Glover, Judge Louis Gottschalk, William S. Harney, the growth of the post office in St. Louis, early railroads, Gen. Rosecrans, the early days of St. Louis, St. Louis Gas Company, the Sanitary Fair Commission, Carl Schurz, and transportation, waterways, etc.

Dates

1740, 1810-1953

Creator

Filley family (Family)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical Sketch

Oliver D. Filley was born in 1806, came to St. Louis in 1829, and served as mayor of St. Louis, 1858-1860. Giles F. Filley (1815-1900) came to St. Louis in 1834. Chauncey Ives Filley (1829-1923) was born in Lansingburg, New York, and came to St. Louis in 1850. He was mayor of St. Louis in 1863; postmaster of St. Louis under Ulysses S. Grant; administrative chairman of the Missouri State Republican Committee; and chairman of arrangements for the opening of Eads Bridge. Augustus Filley was born in 1766.

Extent

1.65 Cubic Feet ( (3 boxes; 2 volumes))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The collection was acquired through various donations including items donated by Wilbur Filley on October 25, 1954; newspaper clippings donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Moore on March 27, 1961 (accession number 61-0032); and items donated by C. Wickham Moore on May 3, 1974 (accession number 74-0024). Additional items were purchased from Symmachus Trading Co. for $7.25 on June 1, 1955. When readily available, the source of each item has been noted in the inventory below.