Chauncey I. Filley papers

Early Life and Education:

Chauncey Ives Filley was born in Lansingburg, New York on October 17, 1829, where he grew up and received a private academic education. Subsequently, Filley attended law school in Saratoga County, New York, for two years. After visiting St. Louis, Missouri in 1850, where he had family, Filley changed his mind and left the practice of law behind. Captivated by life in St. Louis, he decided to relocate there and become a clerk for his close relatives in their fine china business. Five years later, Filley became a partner in the business, and in 1855, he married Miss Anna Adams of Lansingburg, New York.

Political Life:

Filley’s family identified themselves as Democrats, but they normally supported Whig and Republican candidates. During the Civil War Filley strongly supported the Union and its war effort s, ultimately becoming very active in Republican politics. It was during this time that he became a regular at Republican National conventions. Filley attended the convention in 1860, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Republican presidential ticket. In 1863, He gained the nomination of the local Republican-Emancipation delegation for mayor of St. Louis and won, however, he had to resign his post after one year due to poor health. Holding the office of mayor during the Civil War was a challenge, and Filley’s Administration proved effective in reviving industry in the city. The increase in industry meant more tax revenue and employment opportunities for the city’s citizens. Filley’s administration also directed the development of the city’s sewer systems. In 1864, Filley served as a delegate to the Republican Convention in Baltimore that nominated President Lincoln for a second term. He was later a member of the convention which abolished slavery in Missouri, and served as postmaster of St. Louis from 1873-1878. Push for President Grant’s Third Term: Because Filley was a staunch Republican and Unionist, he became very active in the movement to gather support for a potential third term for President Grant. The activities of Filley and other prominent Republican leaders and supporters in Missouri are detailed in a collection of original documents held in The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University.

Final Years:

In 1868, Filley became a member of the Missouri Republican Party Central Committee. He held the Republican state chairmanship for most of the years from 1876-1898, and he was Missouri’s representative on the Republican National Committee from 1876-1892. Filley died at the age of 93 in Overland, Missouri, on September 24, 1923. He was interred in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.

Sources Consulted: Mound City on the Mississippi a St. Louis History. "Chauncey I. Filley." http://stlcin.missouri.org/history/peopledetail.cfm?Master_ID=967 (accessed June 9, 2014). Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials. “Chauncey I. Filley.” http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19244 (accessed June 9, 2014).