From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 219
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

C. G. Proffitt

One of the finest ranches in Rice County – known as Sunny Ridge Stock Farm – is the property of C. G. Proffitt, a leading and enterprising farm and stock-raiser of Raymond township.  Here he owns and operates eleven hundred and twenty acres of land, his energies being devoted to the cultivation of the crops best adapted to this soil and climate and to the raising of the best grades of stock.  He was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, in 1855, a son of John M Proffitt, a prominent early settler of Rice County.  The grandfather, William Proffitt, was a native of Virginia, and was a son of Robert Proffitt, who was born in England.  John M Proffitt, the father of our subject, married Ellen Smith, who died in this county in 1874, loved and respected by all who knew her.  The father is still living, and his history will be found on another page of this volume.

   C. G. Proffitt, whose name initiates this review, was a lad of eleven years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Marion County, Iowa, taking up their abode near Pleasantville, where he assisted in the labors of the farm.  His education was received in the public schools of Tennessee and Iowa.  He first came to Rice County, Kansas, in 1873, but shortly afterward returned to Iowa.  In 1885 he again took up his abode in this county, where he has since remained, proving an active factor in the upbuilding and improvement of his adopted county.  He now owns eleven hundred and twenty acres of the best land to be found in the locality, it being improved with a good residence, large barns, wind-mills, feed lots and all other necessary improvements.  In addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate he is extensively engaged in stock raising, dealing in cattle and hogs.  He keeps on hand from four hundred to one thousand head of cattle on his large farm, and is also an extensive grain buyer.  His Polled Angus cattle are among the finest to be found in central Kansas.  He has been largely instrumental in improving the grade of stock raised in the state, and his efforts have therefore been of public benefit, for the improvement of stock adds to its market value, and the wealth of the agricultural class is therefore augmented.

   In Marion County, Iowa, in 1876, occurred the marriage of Mr. Proffitt and Miss Sarah Elizabeth Schirner, who was born, reared and educated in Marion County, a daughter of Andrew Schirner, a native of Germany.  After coming to the new world he served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, enlisting in the Iowa Graybeard Regiment, and served for three years.  He was married in Indiana to Margaret Titus, who was born in Knox County, Ohio, and her death occurred in 1876, at the age of sixty-two years.  She was twice married, her first husband being James Walker, and they had four children:  Jesse D; F M, who was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war; Emily J; and Eliza.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schirner were born five children, namely:  Margaret, Silas, Hannah, Sarah E and Lawrence.  Mr. Schirner was called to his final rest in 1876, when seventy-four years of age.  The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with six children:  Leonard, who was married October 8, 1899, to Bertha Wood, by whom he has one daughter, Frances Margaret, and they reside in Raymond township; Everett, Ralph, Frank, Esta and Beryl.  In his political affiliations Mr. Proffitt is a Democrat, and he has served as a member of the school board.  His life has been a success, but all his achievements are the result of patient effort, unflagging industry and self-confidence.  During his residence in the Sunflower state he has so deported himself that as a citizen and as a man of business no man has a cleaner record or is more highly esteemed than he.