From the Sterling Bulletin 12-23-04, Rice County news
Raymond: Mr. J. M. Proffitt aged 75 years died at 7 a.m. on Monday. His funeral was held at the Baptist Church Wednesday at 2 o'clock and his body was interred in the Raymond Cemetary.
From The Sterling Bulletin 12-23-04, Obituary
John M. Proffitt was born May 21 1830, in Sullivan County, Tenn, and was converted at the age of sixteen and united with the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he has been a faithful member ever since. In 1855 he was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Ellen Smith; her death occured in Rice County in 1874. She left eight children to mourn her loss–G.C. Proffitt, Mrs. Alice Davis, John and William Proffitt, Mrs. Mary Eaton, Mrs. Sarah Riggs, Mrs. Nancy Mitchell and Mrs. Christina Reed. He was again married in 1876 to Abigail Browning, and to this union eight children were born of whom Harvey, Bertha, and an infant daughter are dead, and Albert, Cora, Jessie, Ray and Roy are still living. In the year1865 Mr. Proffitt became a a resident of Marion County, Iowa, where he resided until 1873, when he moved with his family to Rice County, Kan., where he has resided ever since. He was a constituent member of the Raymond Baptist Church, of which he has been a faithful member until death Dec. 19th, 1904, aged 74 years, 6 months and 28 days. The funeral took place at the Raymond Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Wednesday, conducted by Rev. Wilkerson, assisted by Rev. Monroe, of Chase. A large congregation assembled to pay their last sad respect to the dead.