Background
Filley, Chauncey Ives was born on October 17, 1829 in Lansingburg, New York, United States. Son of Augustus and Amelia (Filley) Filley.
mayor postmaster company executive
Filley, Chauncey Ives was born on October 17, 1829 in Lansingburg, New York, United States. Son of Augustus and Amelia (Filley) Filley.
Pvt, school and academic education. Tendered appointment to the United States Military Academy (declined). Arrived at Saint Louis, September 16, 1850.
Entered commercial career as clerk. Company-partner, 1855; visited Staffordshire (England) potteries, 1858, and designed and controlled own patterns, becoming largest importer and distributor of queensware in Mississippi Valley. Republican nominee for mayor of Saint Louis, 1863 (declination refused), and elected for term of 2 years.
Proposed and secured an act providing for bonds and city ownership of Saint Louis Gas Company.
Proposed and secured an act for construction, bonds, and board of commissioner, eventuating in present water system of Saint Louis. Member State Constitutional Convention which (1865) abolished slavery in Missouri, and revised state constitution.
Drafted bill, 1868, making Saint Louis direct port of entry, act approved July 14, 1870. President Mississippi Valley Commercial and Deep Waterway Convention, New Orleans, 1869.
Postmaster of Saint Louis, 1873-1878.
Secured, 1874, division of 16 states and tys., 4th division Railway Mail Service, creation new 7th division at Saint Louis, resulting in local and gateway record dispatch of mail matter. Managed city, congressional and state campaign, 1894, resulting in election of the entire Republican state ticket, 12 out of 15 congressmen, and secured Filley Election Law for “honest elections.” Presidential elector, 1868, and thereafter delegate to every Republican national and state convention up to and including 1896. One of the “306”; originated slogan “Stand up for Missouri”.
Member Republican National Committee, 1876-1892.
Twice declined Garfield’s tender of Berlin mission, 1881, and portfolio of postmaster-general in President McKinley’s cabinet. Was member and promoter of Merchants’ Exchange reorganization, Saint Louis, 1862.
President Saint Louis Board Trade, 1876-1879. Charter member Missouri History Society, 1864.
Was the originator, promoter and securer, 1897-1898, of the 50-year charter of the Good Government Republican League Club.
Home: Saint Louis, Missouri
Filley was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions from 1864 to 1896 and was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1876 to 1892. He was a member of the convention which abolished slavery in the state.
Married Anna East. Adams, June 28, 1855 (died 1896).