John Proffer was the pioneer of the Proffer  family in Missouri.  He was born in Germany in 1758 and came to America as a boy, bound to a blacksmith.  In the olden days, if you were bound to someone, you would work for them, and they would teach you their trade.  This is how John Proffer became a blacksmith.  He arrived by ship in Pennsylvania, probably at a seaport in Philadelphia.  There is no record of John Proffer on any passenger ships of German Immigrants who arrived in Pennsylvania.   Since he came to America as a bound person, he was probably included as member of the family with whom he arrived.  The name of this family is unknown at this time.

                In adulthood he married Margaret Helderman. She was also born of German descent in 1760.   Since marriage records for Pennsylvania were not issued until 1833, we assume they married before that date.  Thus, there is no definite proof that his wife's maiden name was Helderman.  However, we know his wife was, indeed, named Margaret from her tombstone.  As his son, George Proffer, was born in Pennsylvania in 1781; therefore, this marriage probably occurred around 1779 or 1780.

              Shortly after the birth of this son John Proffer moved his family to North Carolina where he lived for several years following his trade as a blacksmith and farmer.  His other known children were born in North Carolina.

              After the summer crops were harvested in the fall of 1817,  the family once again packed their belongings.  This time they journeyed to Missouri where they arrived the following spring (1818) in time to clear land and plant the crops for next year.   They journeyed in covered wagons, pulled by oxens.  According to hearsay, the most valued item in John Proffer's wagon was an anvil which he used in his trade as a blacksmith.

                The family settled in Cape Girardeau County, near a spring at what is known today as Crump, Missouri.  He lived the remainder of his life in that location, dying in 1838, at the age of 80 years.  His wife died the previous year in 1837, at the age of 77 years.  Both of them were buried on a nearby hillside overlooking the valley of Crump in what later became known as the Proffer Cemetery.  A monument was erected in later years to mark their final resting place.

             Their children came to Missouri in the same wagon train as their parents.  The age differences of these children suggest the likelihood of other children, perhaps daughters whose married names are unknown at this time.

1) George PROFFER, Sr. b: 1781 Pennsylvania
    d: Abt 1854 Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
        married 1) unknown
        married 2) Elizabeth MARNEY, August 11, 1829
        in Cape Girardeau Co. MO

2) Mary "Polly" PROFFER b: 1791 North Carolina, d. about 1895, at age 104
       married:  Samuel Washington SIFFORD

3) Peter PROFFER b: 1793    d: 1858
       married:  Elizabeth STROPP   d: Abt 1832

4) Daniel PROFFER b: 1800    d: 1855

5) David PROFFER b: 1801 North Carolina
       d: November 21, 1861 Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
       married: Margaret UKNOWN   d: 1850

6) John PROFFER b: 1806 North Carolina

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JOHN & MARGARET PROFFER DESCENDANT TREE