Masa Branch Southwick - Scientific America

Masa Branch Southwick, my Very Great Uncle was named after his Mother's father, Amasa Branch.  Masa was born 5 April 1801 in Orwell, Addison, Vermont. When he was 13 his mother passed and at age 14 he was sent off to apprentice with Plinty Moore as a carder of wool. He learned about dying the fabric, weaving the fabric, and all the machine used in the cloth making. At the age of 17 he was sent by his employer Judge Moore to Chambly, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada to oversee the Mill that the family owned. He was later made a partner with Judge Moore at a new Mill they opened in Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. After Judge Moore passed Masa bought the Mill and married Eliza Andres. They had 2 daughters one dying days after her birth and the other after a year. In 1832 Masa brought apple seed to the area and started an orchard. 

He wrote the following poem about his home.

A DREAM OF HOME
Home! Home! At last I've found thee!
Thou dearest spot on earth:
Each nook and tree around thee
And e'en the rough old hearth.
Are dearer now than ever.
Since far from thee and thine
I've roamed o'er hill and river;
O! There's no home like mine! -M.B.S.

In 1841 there was a horrific tragedy at the mill. A woman and her sister had come to see her husband when one their skirts got tangled in a machine. The sister tried to save her but failed to do so and ended up becoming trapped and killed in the same machine herself. 

In 1856 Masa patented a machine used in preparing vegetables, notably potatoes for preservation. It also worked for squash and pumpkins. 

In 1861 he invented and patented a Tow Cleaner used in the threshing of flax, hemp and fibers used in cloth making. He made improvements to existing machines for the manufacturing of flax and food preservation. He obtained numerous other patents in England, Canada and America. Masa sent samples of the preserved meats, fruits and vegetables created by his inventions to the Paris Exposition and won a Bronze Medal. He was awarded a Silver Medal in Canada. He was made an honorary Member of the Mechanics Institute in Montreal in 1854. He ran his numerous businesses for more than 75 years, held a commission for the local courts, held a local office and was a Major in the Canadian Militia for which he received many honors. 
1871 Masa's Flax Break invention is mentioned and written about in Scientific America. 
In 1869 Masa has a stroke which debilitated him and in 1879 he passed. 

He was extremely creative, inventive and well liked in his community and considered a fair and honest business man.