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Proebstel Family From The Columbian, February 12, 1975 "Many old pioneer place names of Clark County [in Washington state, USA] have disappeared or fallen into disuse. "The consolidation of school districts was a factor in eliminating some. Charter Oak, Bee Tree and Livingston are examples. In some places, small communities died when car transportation improved, although suburban growth has revived a lot of the activity. "Lately, many pioneer names were dropped when roads were relabeled with numbers, to provide a more uniform system. "One of the better-known small community names still extant is Proebstel. Yet there is little trace of a community apparent to a motorist travelling through, except for the Proebstel Evangelical Free Church. "The old Legion hall, formerly the Proebstel School, was moved to Fern Prairie last year for use as a church. "But other landmarks of earlier days remain, some associated with the Proebstel family for whom the community was named. Among these are a one-time cheese factory, and the old creamery and barn on the farm occupied formerly by the John Proebstel family. "The community apparently was named for John Proebstel, although his brother, Jacob Proebstel, Sr., also was prominent in the Fourth Plain area in early days. "Mrs. J.E. Sturgeon, who still lives in Proebstel, worked with Norma Scott in compiling a 13 page account of 'The Proebstel Homestead' and she also provided the photos of the John Proebstel family... "Mrs. Sturgeon said John Proebstel came west with his brothers Jacob and Valentine in 1852 and settled on what is now the Fred Reeder property at Proebstel. The 640-acre claim of John and Angeline Proebstel was bordered on the east by what is now known as Green Mountain. "Jacob Proebstel settled six miles northeast of Vancouver, according to early newspaper accounts. "John and Angeline Proebstel eventually had seven sons and two daughters. "A school was established for the children of the Proebstels and other early pioneers. Mrs. Sturgeon reported that a small store known as Helm's was started, 'a post office came, there was a village blacksmith, and a grist mill was located on the Lacamas across the creek from the school.' The community known as Lacamas originally was renamed Proebstel. "Little is left today of the buildings of the early settlement, Mrs. Sturgeon said. "Part of a barn which remains on the Reeder place was built by the Proebstels. "'Not far from this barn and beside the spring house is the creamery,' the Proebstel homestead history states. "As John Proebstel's sons grew up, the family had turned more and more to dairying. "'Together they built out of natural rock an unusually fine creamery with walls more than two feet thick and beautifully mortared together,' the homestead history continues. 'The floor was made of slabs of smooth stone. Water from the spring was piped into the building, and in one corner was a huge low tub for milk cans. "'Eventually milk was separated here and then butter was churned from the cream, as pulleys were attached to the ceiling' "The history of the homestead also mentions that a cheese factory was operated in Proebstel on an old school site by Lacamas Creek. "The cheese factory reportedly was closed in the 1930s and the building now houses the Goodwill Market, on Fourth Plain Road. "Today the members of the Proebstel family are scattered, and there is no one of that name listed in the Vancouver telephone directory. Several members of the Proebstel family including John and Valentine are buried in Sifton cemetery. "It seems possible that there may be a Proebstel school again when future growth requires construction of new educational buildings in that area. But a separate community of Proebstel is a thing of the past."