Proudfit, John J. (1844-1918)

GIFFORD, DAVIS, ZIMMERMAN, PROUDFIT

Posted By: Karen (email)
Date: 1/12/2003 at 18:27:46

JOHN J. PROUDFIT

John J. Proudfit (1844 -1918) was a farmer in Beaver Twp, Polk County. He was born in Ashland County, Ohio, son of David and Esther Zimmerman Proudfit. John, with his brother Levi, went to Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1869. About 2 years later they returned to Ohio and moved their mother and 3 sisters, Elizabeth, Lucinda and Mary Jane, to Knoxville. A third brother, Reuben, settled in Washington County, Iowa.

John was married in 1875 at Pleasantville, Marion County, Iowa, to Mary Ellen Gifford (1854 -1948), born in Monroe, daughter of Manly and Sarah Davis Gifford. They remained in Pleasantville until 1880, when they moved to a farm northwest of Ivy, with Ora Ina and Ira Ellis. The other four children, Manly Jay, Roy Emmett, Ada May and Gladys Esther (Jones) were born in Ivy, Polk County. Ora and Ada never married.

John's ability as a farmer and general businessman is told in early Ivy history. J. J. Proudfit, known as "The Dean" of the Iowa Corn and Small Grain Growers Association, was the driving force behind the future Proudfit winning records covering three generations, which included himself, his three sons and a grandson, Donald. The homestead, within one-half mile north of Ivy, was surrounded by lush Iowa corn ground. Long before trophies were popular evidence of winning, John exhibited Grand Champion corn. Ellis Proudfit remained on the family farm and pursued his interest in the Iowa Corn and Small Grain Growers Association. The Association celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 1927, under the leadership of Ellis, the president for that year. The family entered all competitions, individually and also as a father-son combination. Among other honors, the Proudfit family won a home lighting system and a farm silo constructed of hollow clay blocks.

The second family farm was just south of Ivy. Their son Roy took that over and continued raising corn, livestock and the orchard his father had planted.

John and Mary Ellen retired to apartment living in Des Moines with their daughter, Ora, in 1913. John lived five more years, Mary Ellen, 35 years. They are buried in Canfield Cemetery.