Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Mason County, Michigan H. R. Page & Co., Chicago; 1882 -62- FRANK FILER is a son of the late DELOS L. FILER, whose name must always be associated with the city of Ludington. FRANK FILER was born in Manistee, August 21, 1854, and came to Luding- ton in the Fall of 1872. About the time he became of age he went into partnership with a man named GIBBS, and they rented the FILER mill in Pere Marquette Township, and ran it for one year. FRANK subsequently purchased a half-interest in the mill of his father, and soon after that the present firm of CARTIER & FILER was established. Mr. FILER acquired other business interests upon the death of his father, to the care of which he devotes himself. After the death of Judge HAIGHT, he bought the residence property belonging to that estate. The house is a fine brick structure located in a romantic and beautiful spot near the FILER mill. It is situated upon an elevation over- looking Pere Marquette Lake and within easy distance of the city. The property also comprises thirty-eight acres of land, which Mr. FILER is placing under a high state of cultivation. He is a great admirer of the horses and always has several thorough- breds in his stable. He inherited from his father practical business notions and a large stock of clear, common sene, which have much to do with the success which he is achieving as a business man. He is liberal in the use of his money, but exer- cises liberality with wise prudence and sagacity. Already possessed of a handsome fortune, he is continually increasing it, and is destined to become a leader in business circles. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan Record Publishing Company, Chicago - 1895 -124- FRANK FILER is President of the Ludington Electric Light and Power Company, and is a leading capitalist of Ludington. He has been interested to a large extent in many important local industries, and possesses the confidence and friend- ship of the citizens of this place. He is now assignee of the defunct Savings Bank, and is a Director of the First National Bank. Did space permit, we might enumerate twenty or thirty local concerns which he has been prominent in ad- vancing, and rarely is a new enterprise started that his influence and co-operation are not most earnestly requested. Mr. FILER was born in Manistee, August 21, 1854, and is the youngest son of DELOS FILER. In 1870 our subject came to this place, and received his education mainly in its pub- lic schools. For a time he attended the business college of Grand Rapids. His father owned the mill which is now known as the Butter & Peters Mill on Lake Pere Marquette. This mill FRANK FILER rented of his father in company with CHAUNCY GIBBS about 1878, and managed the same for a year, during which time some twelve million feet of lumber were manufact- ured. This property was sold to Dempsey & Cartier and our subject, the latter having a one-half interest. He was made Superintendent, and managed the business three years, greatly extending their trade. At the end of that time he sold out to the present firm. The next venture of Mr. FILER was to build and operate the electric plant, which was started in 1887. This also proved a success. The place has a capacity of one hundred and eighty arc and eighteen hundred incandescent lights. The Ludington Woodenware Company, which he helped to incorporate, has a capi- tal stock of $35,000 and was a prosperous enterprise for about seven years. When its former management had about failed Mr. FILER took charge of the "sinking ship" and placed it on a paying basis, where it is at the present time. This concern turns out about one hundred thousand five-gross boxes of clothes-pins, four hundred dozen butter-molds, nine thousand dozen large wooden bowls, and broom handles without number per annum. He is still connected with the concern as a stock holder. In politics Mr. FILER is an enthusiastic Republican, and for two terms has been an Alderman. He is a Knight Templar and a Thirty-second Degree Mason. About four and a-half miles east of Ludington is a farm of one hundred and twenty acres belonging to our subject. He has an especial fondness for fine horses, and has a number of Wilkes, Belmont and Almont filleys and several trained race horses. Of the thirteen horses he has at present, all but three give promise of being animals of unusual merit. Mr. FILER is also interested in fruit-growing and has a large portion of his farm devoted to that purpose. November 7, 1883, Mr. FILER and Miss MYRTLE L. CARTER were united in marriage. The lady is a daughter of M. J. CARTER, a millwright and respected citizen of Ludington. She grew ------------------------------------------------------------- -125- to womanhood in Watertown, N.Y., but was born in Handsborough, Miss. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. FILER, GOLDEN MYRTLE, was born March 26, 1887. Mrs. FILER is an attendant at the services of the Congregational Church and takes part in its work, though not a member of the church. The pleasant and happy home of the family is at No. 201 Main Street. ===========================================================================