Delos L. Filer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delos L Filer
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c. 1869
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| Born | September 17, 1817 |
| Died | July 26, 1879 (aged 61) |
| Resting place | Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | public schools |
| Occupation | businessman, lumberman |
| Known for | developing Mason County and Ludington, Michigan |
| Title | General Manager, Manufacturer |
| Spouse(s) | 3 |
| Children | 5 |
Delos L. Filer was an important businessman in northern Michigan during the 1800s. He helped build and grow several towns like Manistee, Filer City, and Ludington. He was known for his work in the lumber industry, developing land, and giving back to his community.
Contents
A Life of Business and Building
Early Years and Learning
Delos L. Filer was born in Herkimer County, New York, on September 17, 1817. His family had Scottish roots.
He went to local public schools for his early education. Because he loved learning, he soon became a teacher himself in the New York District School system.
Moving West and Starting Out
Filer was very interested in the lumber business and selling goods. In 1849, he left New York and moved to Racine, Wisconsin. There, he worked as a traveling salesman, selling cigars and tobacco. He did this job for four years, covering areas in Wisconsin and Illinois.
In the fall of 1853, Filer moved to Manistee, Michigan. He became a bookkeeper for an accounting company called E. & J. Canfield. He had worked with them before in Racine. In Manistee, he earned $400 a year, which wasn't enough for his family. To make more money for his wife and four children, he used his knowledge of medicine. He worked part-time as a doctor in Manistee County and nearby areas.
Building a Lumber Empire
By 1858, Filer had saved enough money to buy land. First, he bought land with lots of timber. Then, he bought half of the Batchelder mill property, which included a sawmill. He was very good at running his part of the sawmill business. Eventually, he bought the other half of the mill.
His success with the Batchelder mill allowed him to buy more land with timber. In 1862, he bought the McVickar estate. At this point, the land he owned was about two-thirds of what is now the city of Manistee.
In 1866, Filer started a company called D. L. Filer & Sons. His sons, Delos W. Filer and E. Golden Filer, joined him. He sold his land in the Manistee area to this new company. The company also bought 2,500 acres of timberland. This land was three miles from Manistee, at the south end of Manistee Lake.
In 1867, they built a large sawmill there, known as the Filer lumber mill. It was located where the Little Manistee River flows into Manistee Lake. Part of this land was planned out and became Filer City. This town became a suburb of Manistee.
Filer was a key person in founding the city of Manistee through his sawmill company. He gave land and money to build public buildings and churches. This helped the town grow and develop. His sons mostly managed the sawmill company. The sawmill was later improved to produce huge amounts of lumber every day. The Filer & Sons lumber mill in Filer City closed in 1914. This happened after they had used up all their timber.
Developing Ludington
In 1868, Filer moved to Ludington. He became one of the owners of the Pere Marquette Lumber Company. This company officially started in 1869. Other owners included Edward A. Foster, Luther H. Foster, John Mason Loomis, and James Ludington.
The lumber company bought property from James Ludington for $500,000. This property included the land for the future town of Ludington. It also had 25,000 acres of pine timber, lots in Pere Marquette village, a large store, and local sawmills. Filer became the new president of this lumber company.
Final Years
Later in his life, Filer traveled a lot in the South and West because his health was not good. In the winter of 1878, he started a trip to California. However, he only made it to Denver. He became very ill there and returned to Ludington.
After a long illness, Delos L. Filer passed away on July 26, 1879. He is buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Family Life
Delos L. Filer was married three times. His first marriage was in 1838 to Miss S.A. Paine. She passed away in June 1839, leaving behind their baby daughter, Mary J. Filer.
His second marriage was to Miss Juliet Golden. Their son, E. Golden Filer, carried on his mother's family name. Juliet died in 1864. She left four children: Mary J. Filer, E. Golden Filer, Frank Filer, and Delos W. Filer.
Filer's third marriage was to Miss Mary M. Pierce of Manistee on January 23, 1866. She had a daughter named Grace.
