Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Proebstel, Andrew J. 1854 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 26, 2007, 10:12 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

	ANDREW J. PROEBSTEL.  One of the oldest and most highly respected 
native sons of Vancouver still living here is Andrew J. Proebstel, who for 
many years has been actively identified with various business interests in 
this locality and for the past eight years has rendered effective service as 
bailiff of the Clark county court.  He was born in Vancouver in 1854 and is a 
son of Jacob and Catherine Proebstel, natives of Berlin, Germany, where they 
were reared and married.  In 1850 they came to this country and settled in 
Missouri, where the father engaged in farming, owning most of the land on 
which now stands Kansas City.  However, successive freezes discouraged him and 
in 1852 he came to Clark county, Washington, and took up a land claim on the 
Lacamas river.  His uncle Andrew had taken up a claim on Fourth Plains and 
this claim Mr. Proebstel later bought and moved to it, making his home there 
until his death, which occurred about 1889.  His wife  died about 1860.  To 
them were born nine children, namely: George; Elizabeth, who became the wife 
of David Wright and lives in Portland, Oregon; Jacob; Fritz; Casper; Mrs. 
Margaret Waginblast; Andrew J., of this review; Catherine, who is the wife of 
John Dupuis and Robert.  Sometime after the death of his first wife, the 
father married Miss Sarah Huffman, who had crossed the plains from the east, 
and they became the parents of a daughter, Florence.
	Andrew J. Proebstel attended the public school at Fourth Plains and 
remained on the home farm until 1874, when he came to Vancouver and worked for 
his brother, Jacob, who operated a general mercantile establishment here.  He 
remained with him two years and then went east of the mountains, locating in 
Umatilla county, Oregon, where he and his brother bought and operated a 
store.  In 1877 he returned to Vancouver and entered into a partnership with 
Andrew Dillon, a cousin of his wife, and they carried on a mercantile business 
together for about a year, at the end of which time Mr. Proebstel sold out to 
his partner but remained a short time as his employe.  He next rented his 
mother-in-law’s farm, but later bought back his old business  at thirty-three 
cents on the dollar and consolidated it with that of S. D. Maxon.  They moved 
the store to Fourth and Main streets, where they conducted a general 
mercantile business under the firm name of Maxon & Proebstel for about two 
years, when Mr. Proebstel sold out.  During the following year or more he ran 
a farm for B. F. Shaw, and then returned to Vancouver.  In 1889 he bought 
Jacob Switzler’s place across the river, where the ferry boat landed.  Some 
time afterward he sold that place and engaged in the agricultural implement 
business at Third and Main streets, Vancouver, in partnership with a Mr. 
Mulligan.  Later he retired from that business, but in 1907 again engaged in 
it in partnership with John March, continuing the business about two years.  
In 1907 Mr. Proebstel had assisted his son-in-law, Frank Wilcox, in 
establishing an automobile business and he has since devoted the greater part 
of his time to it, excepting that during the past eight years when he has 
necessarily spent much of his time in court, having been appointed bailiff, in 
which position he has discharged his duties in a very satisfactory manner.
	On January 16, 1878, Mr. Proebstel married Miss Minnie Nye, who was 
born at The Dalles, Wasco county, Oregon, and is a daughter of Mort and 
Cynthia (Switzler) Nye.  The Switzler family came to this locality about one 
year prior to the arrival of the Proestels, and the Nyes were here prior to 
that time, so that all of these families are numbered among the first settlers 
of this locality.  On January 16, 1928, Mr. and Mrs. Proebstel celebrated the 
fiftieth anniversary of their marriage and it was a noteworthy event, their 
many friends joining in their congratulations and in evidence of their 
esteem.  To  Mr. and Mrs. Proebstel were born three children.  Minnie Frances 
is the wife of Frank Wilcox, who is represented in a personal sketch on other 
pages of this work.  Elsie is the wife of E. S. Selby, of Condon, Oregon, and 
they have four children, Agnes, who is the wife of Carl Balding and has two 
children; Robert; Frank; and Virginia.  Edna died in 1894 at the age of six 
years.
	Mr. Proebstel has always shown a keen interest in local public affairs 
and from 1875 to 1878 he served as deputy county treasurer.  He is a member of 
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Mrs. Proebstel is a member of St. 
Luke’s Episcopal church.  He has always been actively engaged in affairs which 
have occupied his time and for the thirty years prior to 1907 he operated a 
farm in connection with his other interests.  He has been true and loyal in 
his citizenship, has given his support to all measures for the betterment of 
his community, and during all the years of his residence here he has commanded 
the respect and good will of his fellowmen


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Pages 214-215

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