Mahlon Willett (1798-1865)

He was born in Clinton County, New York, but having been orphaned at the age of ten was brought up by Judge Moore, of Champlain, Vermont. There, he was taught how to manufacture clothing. In 1830, he established a wool and cotton spinning factory in the Richelieu Mills and founded the Chambly Manufacturing Company that was continued by his entrepreneurial son, Samuel, who lived at Chambly Castle.