Paul Pressel was born in Germany. He later moved to Moline, Illinois, and became a citizen of the United States in 1890. He and his wife had two sons, Harry and Ernest. The Pressel family papers, 1890-1967 and undated, contains correspondence, postcards, and legal documents created by four members of the Pressel family: Paul Pressel, Harry Pressel, Ernest Pressel, and Jane Pressel Kaminski.