In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printings (1899 and 1901) are folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1806
From Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (1901), History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day (v. 1) (1883), Encyclopedia of the history of St. Louis, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (v. 2) (1899)
Oliver D. Filley was born on May 23, 1806, in what is now the town of Bloomfield, Conn. He was one of six children, five sons and one daughter. His brothers, as well as himself, afterwards became leading and influential men in the communities in which they resided. Young Filley was early sent to school, and as soon as he had mastered the branches of a business education began to learn the tinner's trade in his father’s shop, assisting him also in agricultural work. During this period he completed his education at an academy, and then began life for himself. He first visited Philadelphia, and subsequently Pittsburgh, where he worked at his trade for a short time. He then returned home, but immediately left for St. Louis in company with his brother, Marcus L. Filley. On arriving in St. Louis he procured work in the tin-shop of a Mr. Mansfield, whom he finally bought out about a year later. Under his management the little shop began to enlarge, and to make a figure in the locality where it stood, and its proprietor came to be regarded as an enterprising and energetic young business man. In 1834 his brother, Giles F. Filley, arrived in St. Louis, and entered the shop in order to learn the trade, after which the two brothers formed a partnership which continued several years. Out of this partnership grew the extensive stove-works conducted by Giles F. Filley. O. D. Filley continued in the tin ware manufacture until 1873, when he retired. He was uniformly prosperous, and commanded success because of his strict attention to business and unimpeachable integrity. His trade extended to all important points up the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers, for St. Louis at that time commanded the commerce on those rivers and their tributaries, and he had a large acquaintance throughout all those regions. In St. Louis he was recognized as a leading business man, and his aid was regarded as an extremely desirable acquisition in the establishment of any new enterprise. He was a director in the old Bank of the State of Missouri, and at a critical financial period resigned rather than sanction the receipt of Illinois money on deposits. He subscribed largely to the Kansas Pacific Railway, and contributed generously to the advancement of numerous individual enterprises. As a public-spirited man, he felt it his duty to assist every deserving project that appealed for his aid.
Mr. Filley was originally a hard-money Jackson Democrat, and was aq intimate personal friend of Thomas H. Benton. It was a habit of the latter on his return from Washington, after landing from the steamer, to walk up to Mr. Filley’s store on Main Street and exchange greetings with him before he went home.
In the political agitation of 1846—48 over the Wilmot Proviso, etc., Mr. Filley declared himself unqualifiedly in favor of free soil, and was prominent among the influential men who were even then discussing the question of emancipation in Missouri. In 1848 he supported Mr. Van Buren as the Free-Soil candidate for the Presidency. From 1856 he might be considered a leader in the Republican party, and did not hesitate to proclaim with Francis P. Blair and others that Missouri ought to be free.
As printed in History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day (v. 1) (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Filley, Oliver Dwight, was born in Bloomfield, Connecticut, May 23, 1806, and died in St. Louis, August 21, 1881. His father, was a tinner, and he was reared to that trade. In 1833 he came to St. Louis and pursued his vocation until the following year, when his brother, Giles F. Filley, came to St. Louis also, and the two went into partnership in the stove manufacturing and tinware business, in which both became successful and wealthy. He was the eldest of the Filley family in St. Louis, and was recognized as its representative head. During his active life he was a citizen of great influence, and his counsel was constantly sought on public matters, munici- Pal affairs, and questions of business, and he was held in the highest esteem. He was for a time director in the Bank of the State of Missouri, and resolutely opposed the policy of recognizing and dealing in the doubtful currency that prevailed in the West prior to 1857. He was a personal and political friend of Thomas H. Benton, and on the occasions of the distinguished statesman’s return to St. Louis from Washington, he was accustomed to call at Mr. Filley’s business office, on Main Street, and give him his first greeting. Mr. Filley was an equally sturdy friend and supporter of General Frank P. Blair. In 1858 he was chosen mayor, and gave an administration marked by probity and great municipal prosperity. At the beginning of the Civil War he was conspicuous for his zealous Unionism, supporting the cause with his counsel and his purse at a time when it was in need of both. He was as generous and fair as he was zealous and devoted, and his thorough Unionism did not prevent him from condemning the assessment of Southern sympathizers during the war. He was married to Chloe Varina Brown at Bloomfield, Connecticut, in 1835, and at his death left six children, two sons, Oliver Filley and John D. Filley, and four daughters, Mrs. Ellen Rıchards, Mrs. Maria Jeannette Davis, wife of John T. Davis; Mrs. Alice Moore, and Mrs. Jennie Morton, wife of Isaac Morton.
As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of St. Louis, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (v. 2) (1899). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Filley, Oliver Dwiglit, was born in Bloomfield, Connecticut, May 23, 1806, and died in St. Louis, August 21, 1881. His father was a tinner, and he was reared to that trade. In 1833 he came to St. Louis and pursued his vocation until the following year, when his brother, Giles F. Filley, came to St. Louis also, and the two went into partnership in the stove manufacturing and tinware business, in which both became successful and wealthy. He was the eldest of the Filley family in St. Louis, and was recognized as its representative head. During his active life he was a citizen of great influence, and his counsel was constantly sought on ])public matters, municipal affairs, and questions of business, and he was held in the highest esteem. He was for a time director in the Bank of the State of Missouri, and resolutely opposed the policy of recognizing and dealing in the doubtful currency that prevailed in the West prior to 1857. He was a personal and political friend of Thomas H. Benton, and on the occasions of the distinguished statesman's return to St. Louis from Washington, he was accustomed to call at Mr. Filley's business office, on Main Street, and give him his first greeting. Mr. Filley was an equally sturdy friend and supporter of General Frank P. Blair. In 1858 he was chosen mayor, and gave an administration marked by probity and great municipal prosperity. During the Civil War he was conspicuous for his zealous Unionism, supporting the cause with his counsel and his purse at a time when it was in need of both. He was as generous and fair as he was zealous and devoted, and his thorough Unionism did not prevent him from condemning the assessment of Southern sympathizers during the war. He was married to Chloe Varina Brown at Bloomfield, Connecticut, in 1835, and at his death left six children, two sons, Oliver Filley and John D. Filley, and four daughters, Mrs. Ellen Richards, Mrs. Maria Jeannette Davis, wife of John T. Davis; Mrs., Alice Moore, and Mrs. Jennie Morton, wife of Isaac Morton.
As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.