Clarke Clifford was the fifth child born to Berton Vorce and Vena Bertha (Clarke) Cole. He had seven siblings: Richard, Forrest (died at birth), Ross, Kathryn, Helen, Harry, Virginia (Ginger). Clarke spent the first few early years of his childhood in Shenandoah, Iowa. In 1904 Clarke's father, Berton, inherited great wealth when his adoptive father, James Lamb Cole, passed away . Unfortunately, Berton changed, he began drinking, womanizing and gambling so much that he lost all of their wealth.
Sometime between 1913 - 1916 the family moved to Michigan. Sister Helen was born in Battle Creek in 1916. By 1918 the family was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came to visit the family in August. One month later, Berton had moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job working for the Santa Fe RR. Vena and the children followed in October. It can be surmised that the Risteens, who lived in Williams, had convinced the Coles to move there. Harry was a long time employee of the Santa Fe and he no doubt was responsible for getting Berton the job.
Times were hard for the family. Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. Berton was living in a converted boxcar there while Vena and the children were in Williams. In January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton. Brother Harry was born in the boxcar. In September Berton quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. he had found employment as a bookkeeper in town. This only lasted one month, then he was back with the Santa Fe, but working in Williams as a car clerk. The family was able to move into a small bungalow. In October 1922 the family bought a small house at the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
In February 1923 Clarke's mother suddenly became ill and died within a week, leaving seven children. It was decided that the three youngest (Helen, Harry & Virginia) would go to live with Jessie and Harry Risteen who were now living in Fresno, California. Richard, Ross, Kathryn and Clarke stayed in Williams with their father. It must have been a horrible time for Vena's children, not only to lose their mother, but to be separated. Because both Harry Risteen and Berton Cole worked for the Santa Fe, they were able to get free passes to ride the trains. There were many trips made between Fresno and Williams over the next several years so the siblings could visit.
Berton continued working for the Santa Fe RR in Williams, now at the passenger depot. Richard, Ross, Kathryn and Clarke became involved in community and school events as they got older. Clarke and Kathryn performed in a school production of "Prince Charming." In September 1923 Clarke was voted 8th grade class President. Clarke and his siblings were invited to a lot of parties at friend's homes.
In April 1926 Berton moved to Texas. He had found a job with a contracting company. It is unknown why he did this, but he left three children behind who had not graduated high school yet: Kathryn, Clarke and Helen, who was now living in Williams. One newspaper account said the people who had purchased Berton's home were going to let the children continue to live there until they graduated high school. Why would a father do this? One moth after Berton left, Clarke went to Phoenix to try and enlist in the U.S. Navy, but he was underage.
By July 1928 Clarke was a chauffeur with the transportation department at the Grand Canyon. He was living in Williams in 1930 according to a newspaper account, though his 1930 census can't be located. In August 1930 Clarke was injured during a brawl outside of an I.O.O.F. hall in Williams:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 15 Aug 1930, Fri Page 1
Youth Stabbed In Saturday Night Fray
A very regrettable incident: occurred outside the I. O. O. F. Hall during a dance last Saturday night which resulted in Clarke Cole, Grand Canyon, being taken to the hospital with one bad knife wound in his right side and Claude Nichols, Williams, being lodged in jail.
Nichols was removed to the county jail at Flagstaff Sunday and returned to Williams for examination Wednesday. He testified that Cole had knocked him down and was beating him when he brought the knife into play. Cole refused to prefer a charge against Nichols and deputy county attorney Frank Harrison released him. Both men are said to have been drinking during the evening. Cole lost plenty of blood but reports are that his condition is satisfactory and he will be able to leave the hospital within a short time.
--------------------
By August 1930 Clarke had begun dating Laura Frazier. Here are a couple newspaper accounts:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 29 Aug 1930, Fri Page 7
Refreshments were served after the prize games but the guests would not go home, so more cards were played by the older folks and the younger ones danced. These latter consisted of Bill Basham, Clarke Cole and W. B. Dillon, their partners being Beatrice Hicks and Laura Frazier. Those attending this enjoyable affair were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kennedy, H. L. Benham, Mark Smith, W. B. Dillon, W. 0. Basham, H. M. Goss, the Mesdames Clara Burns, George MacDougal, Sue Ainsworth, Ralph Easton, the Misses Beatrice Hicks, Grace MacDougal and Laura Frazier, and a lone bachelor, Clarke Cole. It is rumored that none of. this bunch got up in time for church Sunday morning. However, that is not official.
---------------------------------------
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 28 Nov 1930, Fri Page 5
Mrs. H. L. Frazier . and daughter Laura and Clarke Cole of Williams, enjoyed a 6 o'clock dinner in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Locket on Thursday evening. Mrs. Locket is a daughter of Mrs. Frazier.
------------------------------------------
In January 1931 Clarke was badly hurt in a gas explosion:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 23 Jan 1931, Fri Page 1
City Employee Burned In Gas Explosion
Clarke Cole, employed by the city water department, suffered severe burns as the result of a gasoline explosion which occurred about' three o'clock Sunday afternoon. Cole, with a number of other employees, was engaged in lowering the city mains which had frozen and was using gasoline to thaw out the lines. Cole was carrying a can, pouring the contents along the line, preparatory to touching it off with a match when the explosion occurred. Clarke threw the can but not before some of the contents had splashed over his clothing. The flames jumped to his clothing and despite the fact that the other men rushed to his assistance and quickly stripped him of practically every shred he had on in a very few seconds, he was badly burned about the chest, face and hands. The cause of the explosion is a mystery as no one was smoking nor had any matches been lighted.
-----------------------------------------
Clarke married Laura Margaret Frazier 28 Feb 1933 in Winslow, Arizona. At this time, he was living in Winslow, employed installing elevators for the Otis Elevator Company. They had two daughters, Norma Jean and Dixie Lee.
By 1934 Clarke was working for the National Forest Service and doing road construction in Clear Creek, Arizona. He and Laura had to live in tents in the forest along with the rest of the road construction crew.
By 1935 Clarke and Laura were living in Williams, Arizona and he was working for the Babbitt Brothers Trading Co. general store. In 1939 and 1940 Clarke was employed as a truck driver, transporting groceries, for the Alabam Transfer Company. By Fall 1940 the family had moved to Burbank, California where Clarke had a job as an aircraft worker for the Vega Airplane Company. They lived there for a few years.
By 1946 the family was living in Williams, Arizona again. Clark was employed first with the Williams Police Department and then became the Under-Sheriff for the Coconino County Sheriff's Department. He was an officer for over twenty years. At the same time, he was also employed as an Inspector for the Livestock Sanitary Board in Williams. He was in charge of checking the brands on the cattle before shipment was allowed.
Clarke lived in Williams the rest of his life. He died from prostate cancer & emphysema.
Sometime between 1913 - 1916 the family moved to Michigan. Sister Helen was born in Battle Creek in 1916. By 1918 the family was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came to visit the family in August. One month later, Berton had moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job working for the Santa Fe RR. Vena and the children followed in October. It can be surmised that the Risteens, who lived in Williams, had convinced the Coles to move there. Harry was a long time employee of the Santa Fe and he no doubt was responsible for getting Berton the job.
Times were hard for the family. Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. Berton was living in a converted boxcar there while Vena and the children were in Williams. In January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton. Brother Harry was born in the boxcar. In September Berton quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. he had found employment as a bookkeeper in town. This only lasted one month, then he was back with the Santa Fe, but working in Williams as a car clerk. The family was able to move into a small bungalow. In October 1922 the family bought a small house at the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
In February 1923 Clarke's mother suddenly became ill and died within a week, leaving seven children. It was decided that the three youngest (Helen, Harry & Virginia) would go to live with Jessie and Harry Risteen who were now living in Fresno, California. Richard, Ross, Kathryn and Clarke stayed in Williams with their father. It must have been a horrible time for Vena's children, not only to lose their mother, but to be separated. Because both Harry Risteen and Berton Cole worked for the Santa Fe, they were able to get free passes to ride the trains. There were many trips made between Fresno and Williams over the next several years so the siblings could visit.
Berton continued working for the Santa Fe RR in Williams, now at the passenger depot. Richard, Ross, Kathryn and Clarke became involved in community and school events as they got older. Clarke and Kathryn performed in a school production of "Prince Charming." In September 1923 Clarke was voted 8th grade class President. Clarke and his siblings were invited to a lot of parties at friend's homes.
In April 1926 Berton moved to Texas. He had found a job with a contracting company. It is unknown why he did this, but he left three children behind who had not graduated high school yet: Kathryn, Clarke and Helen, who was now living in Williams. One newspaper account said the people who had purchased Berton's home were going to let the children continue to live there until they graduated high school. Why would a father do this? One moth after Berton left, Clarke went to Phoenix to try and enlist in the U.S. Navy, but he was underage.
By July 1928 Clarke was a chauffeur with the transportation department at the Grand Canyon. He was living in Williams in 1930 according to a newspaper account, though his 1930 census can't be located. In August 1930 Clarke was injured during a brawl outside of an I.O.O.F. hall in Williams:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 15 Aug 1930, Fri Page 1
Youth Stabbed In Saturday Night Fray
A very regrettable incident: occurred outside the I. O. O. F. Hall during a dance last Saturday night which resulted in Clarke Cole, Grand Canyon, being taken to the hospital with one bad knife wound in his right side and Claude Nichols, Williams, being lodged in jail.
Nichols was removed to the county jail at Flagstaff Sunday and returned to Williams for examination Wednesday. He testified that Cole had knocked him down and was beating him when he brought the knife into play. Cole refused to prefer a charge against Nichols and deputy county attorney Frank Harrison released him. Both men are said to have been drinking during the evening. Cole lost plenty of blood but reports are that his condition is satisfactory and he will be able to leave the hospital within a short time.
--------------------
By August 1930 Clarke had begun dating Laura Frazier. Here are a couple newspaper accounts:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 29 Aug 1930, Fri Page 7
Refreshments were served after the prize games but the guests would not go home, so more cards were played by the older folks and the younger ones danced. These latter consisted of Bill Basham, Clarke Cole and W. B. Dillon, their partners being Beatrice Hicks and Laura Frazier. Those attending this enjoyable affair were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kennedy, H. L. Benham, Mark Smith, W. B. Dillon, W. 0. Basham, H. M. Goss, the Mesdames Clara Burns, George MacDougal, Sue Ainsworth, Ralph Easton, the Misses Beatrice Hicks, Grace MacDougal and Laura Frazier, and a lone bachelor, Clarke Cole. It is rumored that none of. this bunch got up in time for church Sunday morning. However, that is not official.
---------------------------------------
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 28 Nov 1930, Fri Page 5
Mrs. H. L. Frazier . and daughter Laura and Clarke Cole of Williams, enjoyed a 6 o'clock dinner in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Locket on Thursday evening. Mrs. Locket is a daughter of Mrs. Frazier.
------------------------------------------
In January 1931 Clarke was badly hurt in a gas explosion:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 23 Jan 1931, Fri Page 1
City Employee Burned In Gas Explosion
Clarke Cole, employed by the city water department, suffered severe burns as the result of a gasoline explosion which occurred about' three o'clock Sunday afternoon. Cole, with a number of other employees, was engaged in lowering the city mains which had frozen and was using gasoline to thaw out the lines. Cole was carrying a can, pouring the contents along the line, preparatory to touching it off with a match when the explosion occurred. Clarke threw the can but not before some of the contents had splashed over his clothing. The flames jumped to his clothing and despite the fact that the other men rushed to his assistance and quickly stripped him of practically every shred he had on in a very few seconds, he was badly burned about the chest, face and hands. The cause of the explosion is a mystery as no one was smoking nor had any matches been lighted.
-----------------------------------------
Clarke married Laura Margaret Frazier 28 Feb 1933 in Winslow, Arizona. At this time, he was living in Winslow, employed installing elevators for the Otis Elevator Company. They had two daughters, Norma Jean and Dixie Lee.
By 1934 Clarke was working for the National Forest Service and doing road construction in Clear Creek, Arizona. He and Laura had to live in tents in the forest along with the rest of the road construction crew.
By 1935 Clarke and Laura were living in Williams, Arizona and he was working for the Babbitt Brothers Trading Co. general store. In 1939 and 1940 Clarke was employed as a truck driver, transporting groceries, for the Alabam Transfer Company. By Fall 1940 the family had moved to Burbank, California where Clarke had a job as an aircraft worker for the Vega Airplane Company. They lived there for a few years.
By 1946 the family was living in Williams, Arizona again. Clark was employed first with the Williams Police Department and then became the Under-Sheriff for the Coconino County Sheriff's Department. He was an officer for over twenty years. At the same time, he was also employed as an Inspector for the Livestock Sanitary Board in Williams. He was in charge of checking the brands on the cattle before shipment was allowed.
Clarke lived in Williams the rest of his life. He died from prostate cancer & emphysema.
Clarke Clifford was the fifth child born to Berton Vorce and Vena Bertha (Clarke) Cole. He had seven siblings: Richard, Forrest (died at birth), Ross, Kathryn, Helen, Harry, Virginia (Ginger). Clarke spent the first few early years of his childhood in Shenandoah, Iowa. In 1904 Clarke's father, Berton, inherited great wealth when his adoptive father, James Lamb Cole, passed away . Unfortunately, Berton changed, he began drinking, womanizing and gambling so much that he lost all of their wealth.
Sometime between 1913 - 1916 the family moved to Michigan. Sister Helen was born in Battle Creek in 1916. By 1918 the family was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came to visit the family in August. One month later, Berton had moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job working for the Santa Fe RR. Vena and the children followed in October. It can be surmised that the Risteens, who lived in Williams, had convinced the Coles to move there. Harry was a long time employee of the Santa Fe and he no doubt was responsible for getting Berton the job.
Times were hard for the family. Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. Berton was living in a converted boxcar there while Vena and the children were in Williams. In January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton. Brother Harry was born in the boxcar. In September Berton quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. he had found employment as a bookkeeper in town. This only lasted one month, then he was back with the Santa Fe, but working in Williams as a car clerk. The family was able to move into a small bungalow. In October 1922 the family bought a small house at the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
In February 1923 Clarke's mother suddenly became ill and died within a week, leaving seven children. It was decided that the three youngest (Helen, Harry & Virginia) would go to live with Jessie and Harry Risteen who were now living in Fresno, California. Richard, Ross, Kathryn and Clarke stayed in Williams with their father. It must have been a horrible time for Vena's children, not only to lose their mother, but to be separated. Because both Harry Risteen and Berton Cole worked for the Santa Fe, they were able to get free passes to ride the trains. There were many trips made between Fresno and Williams over the next several years so the siblings could visit.
Berton continued working for the Santa Fe RR in Williams, now at the passenger depot. Richard, Ross, Kathryn and Clarke became involved in community and school events as they got older. Clarke and Kathryn performed in a school production of "Prince Charming." In September 1923 Clarke was voted 8th grade class President. Clarke and his siblings were invited to a lot of parties at friend's homes.
In April 1926 Berton moved to Texas. He had found a job with a contracting company. It is unknown why he did this, but he left three children behind who had not graduated high school yet: Kathryn, Clarke and Helen, who was now living in Williams. One newspaper account said the people who had purchased Berton's home were going to let the children continue to live there until they graduated high school. Why would a father do this? One moth after Berton left, Clarke went to Phoenix to try and enlist in the U.S. Navy, but he was underage.
By July 1928 Clarke was a chauffeur with the transportation department at the Grand Canyon. He was living in Williams in 1930 according to a newspaper account, though his 1930 census can't be located. In August 1930 Clarke was injured during a brawl outside of an I.O.O.F. hall in Williams:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 15 Aug 1930, Fri Page 1
Youth Stabbed In Saturday Night Fray
A very regrettable incident: occurred outside the I. O. O. F. Hall during a dance last Saturday night which resulted in Clarke Cole, Grand Canyon, being taken to the hospital with one bad knife wound in his right side and Claude Nichols, Williams, being lodged in jail.
Nichols was removed to the county jail at Flagstaff Sunday and returned to Williams for examination Wednesday. He testified that Cole had knocked him down and was beating him when he brought the knife into play. Cole refused to prefer a charge against Nichols and deputy county attorney Frank Harrison released him. Both men are said to have been drinking during the evening. Cole lost plenty of blood but reports are that his condition is satisfactory and he will be able to leave the hospital within a short time.
--------------------
By August 1930 Clarke had begun dating Laura Frazier. Here are a couple newspaper accounts:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 29 Aug 1930, Fri Page 7
Refreshments were served after the prize games but the guests would not go home, so more cards were played by the older folks and the younger ones danced. These latter consisted of Bill Basham, Clarke Cole and W. B. Dillon, their partners being Beatrice Hicks and Laura Frazier. Those attending this enjoyable affair were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kennedy, H. L. Benham, Mark Smith, W. B. Dillon, W. 0. Basham, H. M. Goss, the Mesdames Clara Burns, George MacDougal, Sue Ainsworth, Ralph Easton, the Misses Beatrice Hicks, Grace MacDougal and Laura Frazier, and a lone bachelor, Clarke Cole. It is rumored that none of. this bunch got up in time for church Sunday morning. However, that is not official.
---------------------------------------
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 28 Nov 1930, Fri Page 5
Mrs. H. L. Frazier . and daughter Laura and Clarke Cole of Williams, enjoyed a 6 o'clock dinner in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Locket on Thursday evening. Mrs. Locket is a daughter of Mrs. Frazier.
------------------------------------------
In January 1931 Clarke was badly hurt in a gas explosion:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 23 Jan 1931, Fri Page 1
City Employee Burned In Gas Explosion
Clarke Cole, employed by the city water department, suffered severe burns as the result of a gasoline explosion which occurred about' three o'clock Sunday afternoon. Cole, with a number of other employees, was engaged in lowering the city mains which had frozen and was using gasoline to thaw out the lines. Cole was carrying a can, pouring the contents along the line, preparatory to touching it off with a match when the explosion occurred. Clarke threw the can but not before some of the contents had splashed over his clothing. The flames jumped to his clothing and despite the fact that the other men rushed to his assistance and quickly stripped him of practically every shred he had on in a very few seconds, he was badly burned about the chest, face and hands. The cause of the explosion is a mystery as no one was smoking nor had any matches been lighted.
-----------------------------------------
Clarke married Laura Margaret Frazier 28 Feb 1933 in Winslow, Arizona. At this time, he was living in Winslow, employed installing elevators for the Otis Elevator Company. They had two daughters, Norma Jean and Dixie Lee.
By 1934 Clarke was working for the National Forest Service and doing road construction in Clear Creek, Arizona. He and Laura had to live in tents in the forest along with the rest of the road construction crew.
By 1935 Clarke and Laura were living in Williams, Arizona and he was working for the Babbitt Brothers Trading Co. general store. In 1939 and 1940 Clarke was employed as a truck driver, transporting groceries, for the Alabam Transfer Company. By Fall 1940 the family had moved to Burbank, California where Clarke had a job as an aircraft worker for the Vega Airplane Company. They lived there for a few years.
By 1946 the family was living in Williams, Arizona again. Clark was employed first with the Williams Police Department and then became the Under-Sheriff for the Coconino County Sheriff's Department. He was an officer for over twenty years. At the same time, he was also employed as an Inspector for the Livestock Sanitary Board in Williams. He was in charge of checking the brands on the cattle before shipment was allowed.
Clarke lived in Williams the rest of his life. He died from prostate cancer & emphysema.
Sometime between 1913 - 1916 the family moved to Michigan. Sister Helen was born in Battle Creek in 1916. By 1918 the family was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came to visit the family in August. One month later, Berton had moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job working for the Santa Fe RR. Vena and the children followed in October. It can be surmised that the Risteens, who lived in Williams, had convinced the Coles to move there. Harry was a long time employee of the Santa Fe and he no doubt was responsible for getting Berton the job.
Times were hard for the family. Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. Berton was living in a converted boxcar there while Vena and the children were in Williams. In January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton. Brother Harry was born in the boxcar. In September Berton quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. he had found employment as a bookkeeper in town. This only lasted one month, then he was back with the Santa Fe, but working in Williams as a car clerk. The family was able to move into a small bungalow. In October 1922 the family bought a small house at the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
In February 1923 Clarke's mother suddenly became ill and died within a week, leaving seven children. It was decided that the three youngest (Helen, Harry & Virginia) would go to live with Jessie and Harry Risteen who were now living in Fresno, California. Richard, Ross, Kathryn and Clarke stayed in Williams with their father. It must have been a horrible time for Vena's children, not only to lose their mother, but to be separated. Because both Harry Risteen and Berton Cole worked for the Santa Fe, they were able to get free passes to ride the trains. There were many trips made between Fresno and Williams over the next several years so the siblings could visit.
Berton continued working for the Santa Fe RR in Williams, now at the passenger depot. Richard, Ross, Kathryn and Clarke became involved in community and school events as they got older. Clarke and Kathryn performed in a school production of "Prince Charming." In September 1923 Clarke was voted 8th grade class President. Clarke and his siblings were invited to a lot of parties at friend's homes.
In April 1926 Berton moved to Texas. He had found a job with a contracting company. It is unknown why he did this, but he left three children behind who had not graduated high school yet: Kathryn, Clarke and Helen, who was now living in Williams. One newspaper account said the people who had purchased Berton's home were going to let the children continue to live there until they graduated high school. Why would a father do this? One moth after Berton left, Clarke went to Phoenix to try and enlist in the U.S. Navy, but he was underage.
By July 1928 Clarke was a chauffeur with the transportation department at the Grand Canyon. He was living in Williams in 1930 according to a newspaper account, though his 1930 census can't be located. In August 1930 Clarke was injured during a brawl outside of an I.O.O.F. hall in Williams:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 15 Aug 1930, Fri Page 1
Youth Stabbed In Saturday Night Fray
A very regrettable incident: occurred outside the I. O. O. F. Hall during a dance last Saturday night which resulted in Clarke Cole, Grand Canyon, being taken to the hospital with one bad knife wound in his right side and Claude Nichols, Williams, being lodged in jail.
Nichols was removed to the county jail at Flagstaff Sunday and returned to Williams for examination Wednesday. He testified that Cole had knocked him down and was beating him when he brought the knife into play. Cole refused to prefer a charge against Nichols and deputy county attorney Frank Harrison released him. Both men are said to have been drinking during the evening. Cole lost plenty of blood but reports are that his condition is satisfactory and he will be able to leave the hospital within a short time.
--------------------
By August 1930 Clarke had begun dating Laura Frazier. Here are a couple newspaper accounts:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 29 Aug 1930, Fri Page 7
Refreshments were served after the prize games but the guests would not go home, so more cards were played by the older folks and the younger ones danced. These latter consisted of Bill Basham, Clarke Cole and W. B. Dillon, their partners being Beatrice Hicks and Laura Frazier. Those attending this enjoyable affair were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kennedy, H. L. Benham, Mark Smith, W. B. Dillon, W. 0. Basham, H. M. Goss, the Mesdames Clara Burns, George MacDougal, Sue Ainsworth, Ralph Easton, the Misses Beatrice Hicks, Grace MacDougal and Laura Frazier, and a lone bachelor, Clarke Cole. It is rumored that none of. this bunch got up in time for church Sunday morning. However, that is not official.
---------------------------------------
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 28 Nov 1930, Fri Page 5
Mrs. H. L. Frazier . and daughter Laura and Clarke Cole of Williams, enjoyed a 6 o'clock dinner in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Locket on Thursday evening. Mrs. Locket is a daughter of Mrs. Frazier.
------------------------------------------
In January 1931 Clarke was badly hurt in a gas explosion:
Williams News, Williams, Arizona, 23 Jan 1931, Fri Page 1
City Employee Burned In Gas Explosion
Clarke Cole, employed by the city water department, suffered severe burns as the result of a gasoline explosion which occurred about' three o'clock Sunday afternoon. Cole, with a number of other employees, was engaged in lowering the city mains which had frozen and was using gasoline to thaw out the lines. Cole was carrying a can, pouring the contents along the line, preparatory to touching it off with a match when the explosion occurred. Clarke threw the can but not before some of the contents had splashed over his clothing. The flames jumped to his clothing and despite the fact that the other men rushed to his assistance and quickly stripped him of practically every shred he had on in a very few seconds, he was badly burned about the chest, face and hands. The cause of the explosion is a mystery as no one was smoking nor had any matches been lighted.
-----------------------------------------
Clarke married Laura Margaret Frazier 28 Feb 1933 in Winslow, Arizona. At this time, he was living in Winslow, employed installing elevators for the Otis Elevator Company. They had two daughters, Norma Jean and Dixie Lee.
By 1934 Clarke was working for the National Forest Service and doing road construction in Clear Creek, Arizona. He and Laura had to live in tents in the forest along with the rest of the road construction crew.
By 1935 Clarke and Laura were living in Williams, Arizona and he was working for the Babbitt Brothers Trading Co. general store. In 1939 and 1940 Clarke was employed as a truck driver, transporting groceries, for the Alabam Transfer Company. By Fall 1940 the family had moved to Burbank, California where Clarke had a job as an aircraft worker for the Vega Airplane Company. They lived there for a few years.
By 1946 the family was living in Williams, Arizona again. Clark was employed first with the Williams Police Department and then became the Under-Sheriff for the Coconino County Sheriff's Department. He was an officer for over twenty years. At the same time, he was also employed as an Inspector for the Livestock Sanitary Board in Williams. He was in charge of checking the brands on the cattle before shipment was allowed.
Clarke lived in Williams the rest of his life. He died from prostate cancer & emphysema.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
