GRADY COLE
Grady Cole of Parks, Arkansas, was born at Cedar Creek on August 14, 1896, to Harvey and Emma Cole. He is 84 years of age. He was married to the late Ona Mae Hawkins, and they had five children - Opal Mae Nelson of Waldron, AR, Lonzo Cole now deceased, Emma Lou Watkins of Weed, Calif., Johnny Cole of Ft. Smith, AR and Joyce Faye Vaught of Waldron, AR. Mr. Cole has lived in Scott County all his life. He has some great memories back in 1915-1916 carrying mail by horseback from Parks to Gravelly Hill and from Parks to Cedar Creek. He also carried mail from Parks to Waldron by horse and buggy. Mr. Cole says that when he carried mail from Parks to Gravelly Hill, he would leave Parks at 6:00 a.m. and would arrive back in Parks at 6:30 p.m. - making 4 stops - Newman, Harvey, Nola and Gravelly. His pay was 45 cents per day. Mr. Cole has held various jobs, but worked for the Forest Service for years and retired from that organization in 1957. He has also done some carpenter work, having built the home he now lives in. Mr. Cole was a Justice of the Peace at Parks and Keener for 25 years, and states he has married many couples during that time. Back when the J.P.'s did the hiring of the County Agent, he recalls that he helped hire B.S. Hinkle, and states that Mr. Hinkle was a great asset to Scott County and was appreciated by all who knew him. Mr. Cole was on the School Board of Directors when Parks consolidated with Waldron. He also drove the school bus from Parks to Cedar Creek and then to Waldron. Mr. Cole has always been very active in community affairs and still is today.
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