Presley Vespicious Nebergall

     Presley Vespicious Nebergall was born on 1 July 1832 at Virginia. He was the son of Jacob Nebergall and Elizabeth Masterson. Presley Vespicious Nebergall married, at age 26, Felicity Brown VanBibber, age 22, daughter of David Campbell Robinson VanBibber and Jane Ann Williams, on Thursday, 27 January 1859 at Scott County, Iowa. Presley Vespicious Nebergall died on 22 September 1878 at Scott County, Iowa, at age 46 years, 2 months and 21 days. He was buried in the Blue Grass Cemetery, located in Scott County, Iowa.
     He From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Jerry, Jim and Judy Brown, comps., 'Family of Jacob Nebergall and Elizabeth Masterson,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 4 No. 7 (May 2001), pp. 10 - 13.

Harry E. Downer, 'History of Davenport and Scott County,' S. J. Clarke Publishing Co; Chicago, 1910.

That the life history of Presley B. Nebergall is the record of success is due to the persistent effort and intelligently directed industry which he displayed through the many years of his connection with agricultural interests in Scott county. He was born in West Virginia, in 1834, and pursued his education in his native state. In 1854, when a young man of twenty years, he came to Scott county with his father, Jacob Nebergall, who settled in Blue Grass township, where he purchased a partially improved farm. Later he bought more land at different times and improved his acreage, devoting his remaining days to general agricultural pursuits.

After coming to Iowa, Presley B. Nebergall lived with his parents on the home farm and assisted his father in the cultivation and improvement of the fields until his marriage, which was celebrated on the 27th of January, 1859. On that date he wedded Miss Felicity B. Van Bibber, who was also a native of West Virginia. They began their domestic life on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near the home of his father and there Mr. Nebergall continued to cultivate his fields until his life's labors were ended in death on the 22d of September, 1878. He was diligent and persevering and, working on persistently year by year, he won that measure of prosperity which always crowns earnest and indefatigable effort.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nebergall were born six children, but one son, George, died at the age of twenty-two years. The others are: J. F. and Jacob A., both of whom are now residents of Davenport; Mrs. Eugenia Whittaker, who is living in Grinnell, Iowa; Edward Lee; and Mrs. Grace Porter, whose home is in Canada. There are also twelve grandchildren in the family.

When Mr. Nebergall purchased the home farm he paid thirty-five dollars per acre for it, but with the settlement of the county and owing to the improvements placed upon the farm its value increased until Mrs. Nebergall sold it some years after her husband's death for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. Following her husband's demise she resided thereon for fifteen years, or until 1893, when she removed to this city and purchased a tract of land within the city limits upon which she has since meade her home. It was at that time that she disposed of her farm, obtaining therefor a substantial price which places her in comfortable financial circumstances.

In his political views Mr. Nebergall was a stalwart democrat, believing that the adoption of the principles of that party would best conserve the interests of good government. He served as president of the school board in his township and was a stanch champion of the cause of public education. He held membership in the Baptist church, in which he was a deacon, and at all times was a public-spirited man, active in support of measures that contributed to the social, educational and moral progress of the community. All who knew him respected him for his sterling worth and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.