The following was extracted from:
"History of Story County by W.G. Allen"
Iowa Printing Company, Des Moines, Iowa 01 March 1887
The Nevada fire company, October 04, elected the following officers for the ensuing year: Fire Marshall, T.P. Worseley; Assistant, W.H. Jones; President,
J.H. Boyd; Secretary and Treasurer, L.H. Proctor; Foreman of Engine, John
Peterson; Assistant, Al Fry; Foreman of Hook and Ladder, Geo. Brady;
Assistant, Z. Presnell; Janitor, Al. Fry (1886)
THE NEVADA REPRESENTATIVE
ESTABLISHED 1857 VOLUME 34, NUMBER 4
NEVADA, STORY COUNTY, IOWA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1891
"DEATH OF ZIMRI PRESNELL"
The people of Nevada were startled Thursday morning last, January 22, 1891, by the unwelcome report that Zimri Presnall had been shot and was lying dead in the wood room of his harness shop, on Linn Street. The report proved to be sadly true. Mr. Pressnall left home a little after six o'clock, according to his usual customs to build fires and to put his shop in readiness for his workmen. On the arrival of Geo Brock, one of the men, about 7:30, he burned two lights, one in each room, the fire ready to light in the stove, the room partly swept and Mr. Pressnall dead in the wood house. the exact manner of his death it seems difficult to determine. About all that is known is that he left home in a cheerful state of mind, that three shots were heard by two or three parties, that two bullet holes were discovered in the siding of the wood shed - one of them having a direction suggestive of a struggle, that the shot causing death was fired with the weapon held against the forehead, that his revolver was found lying near his body with three empty chambers, and that his money purses were found out of his pockets and empty. The changing of the position of the body and it's surroundings before any legal investigation was instituted served also to add somewhat to the indefiniteness in the case. Hence as to whether the shooting was done by himself or by some lurking tramp, there is considerable diversity of opinion, and perhaps the matter will always remain an unraveled mystery. The finding of the coroner's jury after careful investigation of the premises and hearing of testimony was the following: "That Zimri Pressnall came to his death from a pistol bullet fired through his brain by some person to the jurors unknown." This decision though indefinite is all, probably, that the testimony and present knowledge of the sad event would justify.
Mr. Pressnall was born Sept 9th, 1848 at New Castle, Indiana and then about eight years old came with his people to the southern part of Iowa. he was the ninth child in a family of ten children and from early years had to earn his own livelihood. He learned his trade at Des Moines, and came to Nevada about twenty years ago. He has gone in and out before our people all these years, and none have had occasion to speak ill of him as man and citizen. the kindly estimation in which he was held is shown by the appreciative words of his old employer and the memorial testimonial of his K.P. brethren, published below.
His life was insured for $2000. In the Woodmen and $1000. in a Toledo Co. This forethought was in keeping with his usual solicitude for his family of which he was very fond. His funeral services were largely attended at the M.E. church
Saturday forenoon and conducted by Revs Dower, Coyle and Schurr. The funeral cortege from the church to the cemetery was under the direction of the members of the K.P. Lodge and the services at the grave were conducted according to the beautiful ritual of the order. Mr. Pressnall leaves a wife and three little girls of his immediate family and a large circle of relatives to mourn a great loss. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved household.
Mr. E.S. Hoag, in whose services Mr. Pressnall was for many years a trusted employee, pays him the following tribute - A tribute in whose just and kindly sentiments the community will quite generally concur: "More than twenty years ago, when but little more than a boy, Mr. Pressnall came to the firm of Hoag &
Murphy and continued in their employ until in 1886, he went into business for himself. During all that long period he was never known to do a mean act; he was pleasant and easy to get along with, honorable and upright in all his dealings; his whole desire in everything great or small was to do what was

manly, just and good. Slow to speak, slow to wrath, he was merciful to his worst enemies. In his walk and conversation he was so quiet and unassuming that without knowing him well it was impossible to estimate right the real beauty and excellence of his character. A loving husband, a tender father, a faithful friend, all who knew him best must feel that in every relation in life he has been worthy of all honor and all praise; and deeply lament the sad occurrence which has cut short his earthly career."
- Judge and Mrs. Beach of Carroll, Mrs. McCowen and Mrs. Wilson of
Kingsley, Mr. and Mrs. John Pressnall of Cambridge and Wm. Hansell of
Chicago were in Nevada last week to attend the Pressnall funeral.
"A WORD OF CAUTION"
- If those parties who are criticizing somewhat the verdict of the jury in the Pressnall inquest understood all the facts in the case they might possibly think differently from what their words express. All evidence of a struggle, if there had been any, had been destroyed. The body had been moved and straightened out. It had been searched and everything taken out of the pockets. The revolver had been removed, the wood had been piled up, and in fact what would have been the best possible evidence as to the manner of death, had been obliterated before the
Coroner and jury had an opportunity of seeing it. This should not have been done, and was a very plain violation of law. Probably it was done without thinking anything wrong. Still that does not make it right, and in case of death requiring investigation persons should think before acting.
A. M. Norris
L. W. King
S. Hix
- The Coroner's Jury