He was the grandson of Nathaniel Mallory who founded Mallorytown in 1790. He spent his early years working with David, his father, farming and supplying lumber to the Kingston Penitentiary. In 1839, the brash enterprising 20-year-old started up Canada’s first glassworks in a log structure about 2 km. west of Mallorytown. The enterprise only lasted a year or so and closed “due to the unreliableness of the foreman”. The success of the business hinged on the foreman, or gaffer, as he was the only person with the knowledge of how to make the raw glass and how to form it into finished pieces. Without that expertise the business couldn’t continue.

But Amasa was destined to try many more endeavours in his long lifetime. He always considered himself a farmer but he went on to run a general store, a harness & shoe shop, and a black smithy, and act as an agent for Frost & Wood Agricultural Equipment Co. In 1870 he founded a prize-winning cheese factory that operated for over half a century. And while doing all that, he was continuously trading in livestock and real estate and even obtained 2 patents for farm equipment. After his first wife died, having born him 6 children, he married again and had 7 more. His family revered him.

In addition to all of his mercantile endeavors he contributed greatly to his community by feeding and housing new settlers and serving as a town councillor, roads master, school trustee, and Reeve of the township. Amasa Whitney Mallory’s long life was full of service to his family and community.