Filer was of Scottish ancestry and born in Herkimer County in the state of New York on September 17, 1817.

To supplement his income for his family of four children, he used basic knowledge of medicine to help the sick.

First he bought some land containing timber and then a half-interest in the Batchelder mill property that included a sawmill.

Success in operating the Batchelder mill he owned outright gave him the opportunity to buy additional surrounding land containing timber.

Together with the Batchelder mill, that brought Filer's land to the equivalent of two-thirds of what is today Manistee.

[4] According to Lumberman (1905), the "mill was improved until it produced 100,000 feet of lumber, 250,000 wood shingles, and 50,000 wooden lath slats daily".

[9][10] While traveling, Filer became ill in Denver and returned to Ludington, where he died on July 26, 1879.