New Walton ABC Unit has Technician
Harold
L. Malison of Downsville, has been employed by the newly organized
Number Three Unil o! the Walton Artificial Breeding Cooperative Inc.,
one of 181 similar dairy cattle artificial breeding units throughout New
York and Western Vermont affiliated with and serviced by New York
Artificial Breeder's Cooperative, Inc., of Ithaca, New York.
The Walton ABC serves a portion of Delaware County. At present,
approximately 25 per cent of the cows in the area are being bred in
NYABC sites.
Alter graduating from Downsville Central School. Mr. Mattson
Chenango continued to farm until 1950, when he went to work for the
Walsh- Perini Construction Company. He served two years In the
508th Paratroopers.
After completing the Artificial Breeding Technicians' Training
Course sponsored jointly by the Animal Husbandry, Department of the New
York State College of Agriculture and the Field Service Department of
New York Artificial Breeders' Cooperative, Inc., he served a period of
apprentice training at the NYABC headquarters Ithaca.
Mr. Mattson recently married Ellen Brown.
He began work with the artificial breeding cooperative on December
18. He brings to the area around Downsville service for all five major
dairy breeds--Holstein, Guernsey, Jersey, Ayrshire and Brown Swiss--and
also for Angus beef cattle. Dairymen may reach him at Downsville 31643.
[The Oneonta Star, Oneonta, NY, 30 Dec 1953, Wed. Page 8] |
Harold L. “Sonny” Mattson, 88, of Downsville passed away on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, NY, following a short illness.
Sonny was born on December 29, 1928 in Jersey City, NJ the son of the late Harold R. and Linnea (Johnson) Mattson. He married “the love of his life”, Ellen Brown on August 30, 1953. Together they raised six children on their dairy farm in Downsville. She passed away at home last spring after an extended illness on April 25, 2016. On March 29, Sonny rejoined his bride in heaven.
As a youth, Sonny developed a love for farming from visiting his grandparent’s farm in Andes. He was a paratrooper in the Army for two years before marrying his high school sweetheart, Ellen. He and Ellen rented a dairy farm in the Finger Lakes region and then returned to Downsville to purchase the current Harmonie Farms. Sonny successfully ran the dairy farm for many years before transferring it to his sons, Michael and Mark. Throughout his lifetime Sonny was active in several community organizations. He was a member of the Colchester Community United Methodist Church and the Downsville Lions Club for 35 years of which he was active president for the past nine years. Sonny was a former member and past president of the Downsville Central School Board, and a former member of Farm Bureau and the Andes Creamery Board.
In his later years, Sonny enjoyed spending time with his family, dancing,
camping, and traveling annually with his wife to St. Martin, playing
Bocce Ball on Telford Hollow, cutting firewood, watching MASH,
participating in fundraisers for the Lion’s Club, and having coffee with
his friends at the Downsville Diner.
. As his responsibilities lessened on the farm he became a more active
member of the Colchester |
Community Church and for several years has provided the church with
a fresh cut Christmas tree.
Sonny is survived by his loving family. His children: Michael and
Kate Mattson, Downsville; Mark and Kim Mattson, Downsville; Anne Czymmek,
Freeville; Amber and Peter Heimbuecher, Downsville; Amy and David
Hornburg, Groveland; his grandchildren, Matthew and Jessica, Kathryn and
Zach, Steven and Kirstie, Andrew and Wendy; Kelsey and Steven, Collin
and Rachel, Cameron, and Olivia; Mallory and Justin, Linnea and Travis,
and Jessica; Meredith, Madeline, and William; Eric; Ellen and Scott,
Clayton and Kelsey, Blake, and Heidi. His step grandchildren: Amanda,
Travis and Andrea; Kathie and Chris, Robert and Kelly; David, Jennifer
and Cliff; 13 great grandchildren; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law,
Mahlon and Dee Brown of VA, and his sister-in-law Doris Brown of FL; and
several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife of
62 years, Ellen Brown Mattson, daughter, Heather Linnea Mattson June,
his granddaughter, Emily Ruth Czymmek, and his brother-in-law, Bill
Brown.
Friends and family are invited to call on Friday, April 7, 2017
from 5 to 8 PM at Courtney Funeral Home 25 Townsend Street, Walton.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 12 noon
at the Colchester Community Church, 15151 State Highway 30, Downsville
with the Rev. Dale Ashby, officiating.
Memorial Contributions in Sonny’s memory may be made to the
Colchester Community Church, Catskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Drive,
Oneonta, New York 13820, or Downsville Lions Club, Attn: John Hampel,
26669 Stat Highway 206, Downsville, New York 13755.
[The Oneonta Star, Oneonta, NY, 30 Dec 1953, Wed, Page 8} |