His father worked as a carpenter by trade, but he also owned and operated a grain elevator on his farm. Edward was educated through the eighth grade at various local schools near Monticello, including the public school at Cassoday, Iowa. He later attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1896.
During his years at Grinnell College, he was an editor of the college newspaper and contributed to the college literary magazine under the name "Kirk." It is believed that he also attended the University of Iowa that same year. He then traveled west to Chicago where he found employment as a bookkeeper with several grain elevator businesses until 1897 when he moved to Denver, Colorado, where again he found work as a bookkeeper for several elevator companies. On December 17, 1899, Pressey married Julia Bell Swartley in Denver, Colorado.
After being widowed in 1907, Pressey married Emma Bell Davenport on March 22, 1909. They were married for 34 years until her death on June 5, 1936. He later married Grace Louise Bell on July 15, 1940; they were married for 29 years until her death on December 28, 1970.
Edward Pressey died on January 13, 1976 at the age of ninety-four years old near San Diego, California.
