Chasing Our Tales - Proffitt, Texas, in Young County, a Ghost Town

Before I begin on my next Ghost Town Column, I want to ask you guys a favor. I am trying to research Cobb, Texas, which was located between Jacksboro and Windthorst. It was southeast of Windthorst and could have been in either Jack or Clay County. Any direction you might have about Cobb would be greatly appreciated...people who founded it, why it was founded, is there a cemetery there? Those sort of things. You can contact me at P O Box 61, Mineral Wells TX 76068-0061.

Now, on to a Ghost Town in Young County by the name of Proffitt. A part-time Methodist minister and store keeper from Tennessee came to Texas in 1852. His name was Robert S. Proffitt. He settled first in Center Mills in Hood County but ten years later he moved on to Young County, and in the early 1860’s he had a cattle ranch along the Brazos River and Elm Creek which was near Fort Belknap. The land was beautiful and exactly the right sort of land for cattle raising, and Proffitt and his sons owned the ideal.

The on October 31, 1864, one of the must devastating of the mid-century Indian depredations occurred in West Texas, on Elm Creek, known far and wide as the Elm Creek Massacre.

Indians attacked settlers along Elm Creek and killed ten people, while carrying off two women and five children. Then in July of 1867 another major raid along Elm Creek happened. At that time three young men were chasing cattle, and the raiding party came upon them, killed them, and scalped them. One of the boys was Robert Proffitt’s son. They were buried in a common grave. The historical marker by the grave tells that it is in memory of Patrick Euell Proffitt, son of Robert S. Proffitt; Rice Carlton; and Rueben Johnson, son of J. Allen Johnson, three 19 year old boys killed in one of the Elm Creek Indian raids, July 17, 1867.

Reuben Johnson, Ewell Proffitt, and Rias (Rice) Carrollton (Carlton), were branding cattle at the old Fitzpatrick Ranch, when the Indians made their early appearance in 1864. About ten o'clock in the morning, 17 July 1867, seventy-five Indians came dashing toward them. The boys succeeded in retreating about three-fourths of a mile, but they were soon killed. The raid is often mentioned as the "Elm Creek Raid Number Two," because it resembled in many respects, the Big Young County Raid, of 1864.
After the killing of Reuben Johnson, Ewell Proffitt and Rias Carrollton, five Indians appeared at the Hamby Ranch, and encountered Roland Johnson, John H. Cochran, and Tom Hamby. When these citizens presented their guns, the Indians dashed away but succeeded in driving off Hamby's horses. Rolland Johnson's family ran down and hid in the same cave that protected them during the Big Young County Raid, of 1864. After causing considerable excitement and stealing several horses, the Indians withdrew, leaving the dead bodies of Reuben Johnson, Ewell Proffitt and Rias Carrollton, as a token of peace, and confirmation of the many treaties they had made.
These young men were the first burial in the community graveyard which became know as the Proffitt Cemetery, the land given by John Proffitt. The cemetery contains both marked and unmarked graves of area pioneers. The numerous interments of infants and children illustrate the often harsh conditions of frontier life. The largest number of burials occurred in the years between 1910 and 1920, and include many victims of the World War I-era influenza epidemic. Also buried here are veterans of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. Maintained by a cemetery association, this historic graveyard stands as memorial to Young County pioneers.

The town of Proffitt was founded about 1862 by Robert’s son John, 1846-1925, who donated land for the cemetery, a Methodist Episcopal church and a school and Masonic Lodge after the Civil War. Later a Baptist church was also built. The post office opened in 1880 with J. G. Armstrong as postmaster, and John Profitt went into the freighting business and opened a store in 1894.

The population of the town stayed at about 50 until the 1960’s when it increased to 125. No population has been registered since.

The town of Proffitt thrived for quite a few years, and it had a post office until 1925 when the mail began being routed through Newcastle. Today there are a few scattered buildings, a community center, and a cemetery, along with a state historical marker telling the tale of the boys who died at the Indians’ hands located off U. S. Highway 380.

Here is some other information about Proffitt.

Jemina Ann Proffitt was born 23 Aug 1865 in Texas, died 13 July 1957 in San Bernardino County, California. She was married to John Gregory on 27 Dec 1891 in Hood County, Texas. He died 26 May 1937 in California. Their children were: Luther, Robert Jay, Lena Faye Shelton, Verna May Dobson, Bessie, Barney B. , John W., and Caloway (Cal) Gregory. Lena Fay Gregory Shelton died 10 Dec 1985 in San Bernardino, California, and Vern May Dobson died 10 Feb 1989 in Los Angeles County, California. Also, Jemima Jane Tullough’s mother was married to Robert Smith Proffitt 14 Aug 14 1845 in Washington County, Missouri where the Proffitt family came from to Texas.

Fred Davis has been a Proffitt researcher since 1970. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

An obituary from the Graham Leader in 2002 read: Drenin Reuel Proffitt, 104, a retired owner of a landscape company in Fort Worth, died Sunday, July 21, 2002, in Graham. Funeral: 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Greenwood Funeral Home Chapel. Burial: Greenwood Memorial Park. Memorials: May be made to the Proffitt Cemetery Association, Route 1, Box 63, Newcastle, Texas 76372, or a charity of choice. Mr. Proffitt was born March 4, 1898, in Young County. He attended school in Newcastle and was a Baptist. Mr. Proffitt lived in Fort Worth for 56 years before moving to Graham in 1998. He married Cora Wiley on May 26, 1918, in Murray. She preceded him in death Feb. 17, 1987. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Helen Patton Bessire. Survivors: Daughters, Wanda Ford of Independence, Mo., and Nita and R.T. Wells of Proffitt; grandchildren, Joan Patton and John Scales, David and Cathy Patton, Pete "Art" and Barb Nixon, and Barbara Proffitt; 13 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Another obituary reads: A.L. "Leon" Creel, 88, a farmer and rancher, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, at an Olney hospital. Funeral: 2 p.m. Friday in Morrison Funeral Home Chapel. Burial: Proffitt Cemetery in Young County. Visitation: for family and friends will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Morrison Funeral Home. Memorials: Proffitt Cemetery Association, 163 T. Nita Road, Newcastle, Texas 76372. He was a member of Proffitt Baptist Church and served for 23 years on the Newcastle Independent School District board. Survivors: Wife, Irene Creel of Proffitt; daughters, Pat Simpson of Valley Mills, Nancy Smith of Corpus Christi, Judy Cradduck of Aspermont and Ruby Quinn of Newcastle; son, Bub Creel of Proffitt; brothers, L.L. Creel of Duncan, Okla., and L.B. Creel of Loving; caregiver, Polly Reynolds; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

And another obituary, this time from the Newcastle Register reads: Young County Pioneer Dies Saturday P.M.

Funeral services were held Sunday for W. D. Bellomy, pioneer Young county resident who died suddenly at his home in the Proffitt community late Saturday afternoon. Rev. M.F. Richardson of Eliasville conducted the service assisted by Rev. E. M. Agee of Wichita Falls and Rev. J. A. Bell of Newcastle. The Masonic Lodge of Newcastle conducted the funeral rites of that fraternity in a beautiful and impressive ceremony.

Mr. Bellomy had been in ill health for some time but had been able to direct the affairs of his farm and had ridden over the farm on horseback Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon he made a trip to Newcastle, and it was shortly after his return home that he was stricken.

Mr. Bellomy was born in Erath county on March 16, 1860. The family moved to Young county in 1878 and settled in the Tonk Valley community. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ross by Rev. G. W. Black at the Hunt Ranch in the Miller Bend community on November 11, 1883. To this union were born ten children, nine of whom survive: Ira, Burges, and David of Proffitt; John Bellomy of Canadian; Mrs. J. T. Lewis of Proffitt, Mrs. Jeff Keeter of Elbert, Mrs. Jabez Keeter of Elbert, Mrs. Lewis LeNoir of Woodson, and Mrs. Harry Higgins of Kinderhook, Ill. He is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Sallie Roberts of Stephenville.

In 1903 Mr. Bellomy was converted and united with the Baptist church at Murray. He moved to Proffitt in 1904 and was a leader in church and community life until his death. The high esteem in which he was held by those who knew him was evidenced by the large crowd in attendance at his funeral, many of his friends having driven long distances through the rain and mud to be present. There was also a large beautiful floral offering.

Source: newspaper clipping, believed to be Newcastle Register around May 7, 1932.

If you have information on Proffitt, Texas, or on any ghost towns in Texas, please contact me.

Until next time, have a great Thanksgiving...giving thanks for this great country of ours and for our flag, long may she wave. God bless you all!

©2010 Sue Seibert