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Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     WILLIAM F. PROEBSTEL resides four miles from Alma, in Okanogan county, where he has a quarter section of fertile land which is supplied with a good residence, large barn, five acres of orchard, and various other improvements.  He has water for irrigation and raises a good deal of alfalfa and other hay besides handling some stock.
     William F. Proebstel was born on December 29, 1855, in Clarke county, Washington, the son of Valentine and Malinda (Matury) Proebstel, natives of Virginia.  The father was born in 1815 and served for four years in the regular army of Germany.  It was 1840 that he came to the United States and settled in Clay county, Missouri, being there married.  In those early days he crossed the plains with ox teams, taking his family with him and they all landed in good time in Vancouver, Washington, where he took land and engaged in farming until the time of his death, which occurred in 1882.  The following   children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Proebstel:  Mrs. Elizabeth Christ, deceased; John W.; Wendell; Albert; Mrs. Elizabeth Fletcher; William F., and Mrs. Kate Welsh.
     Mr. Proebstel was a staunch pioneer and fought in the Indian war of 1855.  In 1876 our subject went to Lake county, California, and in 1882 he came thence to Lincoln county, Washington, with two of his brothers.  They all located near Wilbur, being the first people in what is now known as the California settlement.  Mr. Proebstel remained there until 1892 when he came to his present home place which was taken as a homestead.  Here he has devoted himself with industry since and the result is that he is now one of the prosperous men of the country.  He has never thought fit to turn from the quieter joys of the celibatarian and so is classed as one of the bachelors of the county.  Mr. Proebstel's mother, now aged ninety-one, is living with him and his brother, John W., is also making his home with him.
     John W. Proebstel was born on October 2, 1843, in Clay county, Missouri, and when his parents crossed the plains he rode horseback and drove cattle from the Missouri river to Vancouver.  At the age of sixteen he started out in life for himself, and in 1863 we find him in the Boise mines, whence he went later to Baker City and other eastern Oregon points.  He again went to Idaho and has visited nearly every mining camp in the northern part of that state.  In 1877 he was engaged as government teamster in the Indian war and was with General Howard.  After this he located in Umatilla county, then went to Vancouver, and in 1887 came to Conconully and opened a general merchandise store.  After this he went to British Columbia, then to Colville, and later resided in Kettle Falls, whence in 1892 he came to reside with his brother.  On September 24, 1885, John W. Proebstel married Miss Ella Hyson, a native of King county, Washington, and to them two children have been born, Elizabeth and Emory J.