Henry Giese Ankeny
Henry Giese Ankeny was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1827. He moved with his family to Millersburg, Ohio when just a toddler. When a child, his feet were severely frozen which resulted in Henry spending more time indoors and reading and learning than was the norm. He was personally tutored and developed excellent writing skills. Those skills are seen in the myriad letters he sent home to his wife, Tina, during his heroic days as a Captain in the Union Army during the Civil War. As a young man he traveled with his brother, John Fletcher, out to California and sought to find gold as a miner near Sacramento, California. He returned home and his father quickly dispatched him to Iowa. In Iowa he found and married Horatia Fostina Newcomb. They settled in Adams County, Iowa where Tina's step father, Zachariah Lawrence, lived. When Tina's father died, her mother married Mr. Lawrence. When Tina's mother died, she was raised by Mr. Lawrence and his next wife. Tina considered them her parents and referred him as "Father". In 1858 Henry was elected County Clerk. It is Henry's own fine handwriting that we can see in the 1860 Adams County, Iowa census. When the Civil War erupted, Henry Giese Ankeny was quick to volunteer. He was put in charge of recruiting and leading the young men of Adams County including the Lawrence men, some of Tina's stepbrothers. A wonderful accounting of Henry's life during the war is chronicled in the book "Kiss Josey For Me". It is a compilation of letters from Henry to Tina depicting the mundane to the heroic days during the war. It was compiled by Henry's granddaughter, Mrs. Florence Ankeny Cox. The title was chosen because Henry frequently ended his letters to Tina with the words "kiss Josey for me". Josey was their little boy, Joseph Newcomb Ankeny. Henry survived the war, but two of their little baby girls did not. Jessie and Rosa died while he was away. Their tiny graves are in Oakland Cemetery, Adams County, Iowa. Tina and Henry went on to have full and prosperous lives and had a total of ten children, seven lived to adulthood. Henry died when he was 78 on March 17, 1906. Henry and Tina are buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Corning, Adams County, Iowa.
Henry Giese Ankeny and Horatia Fostina Newcomb Ankeny
(from J Ankeny Lindamood collection)
(from J Ankeny Lindamood collection)
Photos of Tina and Henry Ankeny
(from S H Brown collection)
(from S H Brown collection)
Henry Giese Ankeny
(from M Cox Titus collection)
(from M Cox Titus collection)
Walnut Grove Cemetery, Corning, Adams County, Iowa
1-Henry Giese ANKENY (24 Dec 1827-17 Mar 1906)
+Horatia Fostina "Tina" NEWCOMB (1841-1928)
2-Jessie ANKENY (24 Aug 1860-15 Sep 1861)
2-Joseph Newcomb ANKENY (29 Oct 1861-5 Mar 1949)
+Elma H ROGERS (6 Apr 1864-26 Feb 1953)
3-Jessie Valentine ANKENY (27 Dec 1883-10 Apr 1979)
+Henry Veere LACY (5 Oct 1886-23 Mar 1975)
4-Mary Nind LACY (1916-)
4-Henry Ankeny LACY (11 Sep 1917-3 Oct 2002)
4-Alice LACY (1922-)
4-Dorothy LACY (19 Feb 1924-19 Aug 2012)
3-Blanche ANKENY (31 Aug 1885-18 Jul 1913)
+Charles CHAPMAN (4 Nov 1881-25 Oct 1953)
3-Ralph Dewalt ANKENY (14 Oct 1887-May 1973)
+Ida M RHINE (1889-1946)
4-Pauline ANKENY (1 Jun 1908-9 May 1998)
4-Dorothy ANKENY (5 May 1910-30 May 2011)
4-Joseph Newcomb ANKENY (8 Sep 1914-26 Oct 2009)
4-Doris Maxine ANKENY (23 Sep 1916-20 Apr 1989)
4-Homer R ANKENY (12 Feb 1919-26 May 1990)
4-Shirley ANKENY (1934-)
3-Helen Lucile ANKENY (22 Oct 1891-25 May 1959)
+Emil Anthon JOHNSON (1888-21 Apr 1937)
4-Roger Ankeny JOHNSON (2 Dec 1914-1 Aug 1993)
4-Phillip Newcomb JOHNSON (10 Feb 1923-Nov 1973)
3-Homer R ANKENY (1894-Jun 1970)
+Rose C (28 Apr 1901-3 Jul 1967)
+Edith BROTT (30 Jun 1895-21 Mar 1925)
4-infant daughter ANKENY (16 Mar 1925-16 Mar 1925)
4-infant daughter ANKENY (16 Mar 1925-16 Mar 1925)
3-Harriet Louise ANKENY (3 Feb 1896-27 Dec 1989)
+Ralph W LITTLE (1895-1976)
3-Florence Marie ANKENY (7 Sep 1898-14 Jan 1991)
+Harold Herbert COX (1 Feb 1898-31 Oct 1987)
4-Harold Richard COX (8 Oct 1922-31 Mar 2011)
4-Barbara J COX (1925-)
4-Marilyn COX (28 Jun 1928-)
3-Henry Giese ANKENY (22 Oct 1900-14 Dec 1976)
+Irene DELANEY (17 Jul 1895-31 Jan 1990)
4-Margaret Louise ANKENY (20 Nov 1921-7 Jun 2007)
4-Jo Anne ANKENY (1924-)
4-Rita Irene ANKENY (1925-)
4-Virginia Ruth ANKENY (1928-)
2-Rosa ANKENY (9 Jun 1864-22 Aug 1864)
2-Warren Bonnet ANKENY (11 Feb 1866-1953)
+Osia JOSLYN (8 Apr 1870-1940)
3-Colin Clinton ANKENY (30 Apr 1895-19 Jun 1959)
+Irene STENWALL (1899-1 Jan 1981)
4-Colin Stenwall ANKENY Jr (20 May 1929-24 May 1998)
3-Faustina ANKENY (16 May 1900-Nov 1984)
+Paul O INGWERSEN (1890-1969)
4-C Bernhard INGWERSEN (11 Sep 1924-13 Dec 2007)
2-John Barcroft ANKENY (1 May 1867-10 Jun 1926)
+Louetta L DEVORE (18 Jul 1871-2 Oct 1930)
3-Chester Devore ANKENY (10 Apr 1891-16 May 1959)
+Grace Elinor HALL (8 May 1893-22 Nov 1983)
4-Lois Elizabeth ANKENY (22 Nov 1917-27 Sep 2004)
4-Ronald Ormel ANKENY (5 Dec 1920-10 Mar 2006)
4-Earl ANKENY (23 Sep 1922-13 Nov 1956)
4-Helen ANKENY (1925-)
3-Russell Barcroft ANKENY (19 Sep 1893-23 Dec 1988)
+Ida SHERMAN (19 Nov 1897-23 Nov 1987)
4-Ruthe L ANKENY (6 Nov 1917-2 Oct 2012)
4-John Isaiah ANKENY (21 Sep 1919-26 Sep 1985)
4-Roy Russell ANKENY (2 Jul 1922-20 Mar 1995)
4-Janet Bell ANKENY (1932-)
2-Henry G "Harry" ANKENY Jr (3 Apr 1870-6 May 1898)
+Emma CHAFFEE (24 Mar 1870-19 Aug 1957)
2-Rollin V ANKENY (27 Dec 1871-3 Aug 1956)
+Edythe M PEASE (1878-Nov 1961)
3-Harold R ANKENY (15 Mar 1901-31 Jan 1980)
+Ruth Frances WILLIS (1901-1948)
4-Rollin F ANKENY (26 Nov 1926-)
4-Barry David ANKENY (24 May 1932-8 Nov 2004)
+Eulalia "Lolly" HARRIS (1899-1979)
+Natalie Isabel HARLEY (1905-)
3-Barbara E ANKENY (5 Jul 1906-25 Jul 1988)
+James Webster ORDWAY (-)
4-Ronald ORDWAY (1934-)
2-Dr Ralph L ANKENY (2 Jan 1874-2 Jun 1973)
+Janet Arnott YUILL (1878-)
3-Ralph Clement ANKENY (4 May 1907-23 Aug 1961)
+Sybil Elinor (19 Oct 1908-3 Jun 2008)
4-Joyce "Jo" ANKENY (-)
4-Peter Ralph ANKENY (-)
2-Harriet Elizabeth ANKENY (2 Aug 1875-Sep 1967)
+Harold Horace HARRIS (11 May 1871-1946)
3-Fostina HARRIS (2 Jul 1906-20 Oct 1995)
+Louis Nelson HOOPLE (1900-1986)
4-Patricia Ann HOOPLE (5 Apr 1933-2 Apr 2005)
4-Betty L HOOPLE (1930-)
3-Arthur Ankeny HARRIS (20 Dec 1911-7 Jun 1983)
+Opal Ernestine "Jackie" HART (19 Jan 1917-31 Jul 2007)
4-Harold Hart HARRIS (1939-)
4-son HARRIS (-)
4-son HARRIS (-)
2-Ethel ANKENY (1 Feb 1882-6 May 1883)
+Horatia Fostina "Tina" NEWCOMB (1841-1928)
2-Jessie ANKENY (24 Aug 1860-15 Sep 1861)
2-Joseph Newcomb ANKENY (29 Oct 1861-5 Mar 1949)
+Elma H ROGERS (6 Apr 1864-26 Feb 1953)
3-Jessie Valentine ANKENY (27 Dec 1883-10 Apr 1979)
+Henry Veere LACY (5 Oct 1886-23 Mar 1975)
4-Mary Nind LACY (1916-)
4-Henry Ankeny LACY (11 Sep 1917-3 Oct 2002)
4-Alice LACY (1922-)
4-Dorothy LACY (19 Feb 1924-19 Aug 2012)
3-Blanche ANKENY (31 Aug 1885-18 Jul 1913)
+Charles CHAPMAN (4 Nov 1881-25 Oct 1953)
3-Ralph Dewalt ANKENY (14 Oct 1887-May 1973)
+Ida M RHINE (1889-1946)
4-Pauline ANKENY (1 Jun 1908-9 May 1998)
4-Dorothy ANKENY (5 May 1910-30 May 2011)
4-Joseph Newcomb ANKENY (8 Sep 1914-26 Oct 2009)
4-Doris Maxine ANKENY (23 Sep 1916-20 Apr 1989)
4-Homer R ANKENY (12 Feb 1919-26 May 1990)
4-Shirley ANKENY (1934-)
3-Helen Lucile ANKENY (22 Oct 1891-25 May 1959)
+Emil Anthon JOHNSON (1888-21 Apr 1937)
4-Roger Ankeny JOHNSON (2 Dec 1914-1 Aug 1993)
4-Phillip Newcomb JOHNSON (10 Feb 1923-Nov 1973)
3-Homer R ANKENY (1894-Jun 1970)
+Rose C (28 Apr 1901-3 Jul 1967)
+Edith BROTT (30 Jun 1895-21 Mar 1925)
4-infant daughter ANKENY (16 Mar 1925-16 Mar 1925)
4-infant daughter ANKENY (16 Mar 1925-16 Mar 1925)
3-Harriet Louise ANKENY (3 Feb 1896-27 Dec 1989)
+Ralph W LITTLE (1895-1976)
3-Florence Marie ANKENY (7 Sep 1898-14 Jan 1991)
+Harold Herbert COX (1 Feb 1898-31 Oct 1987)
4-Harold Richard COX (8 Oct 1922-31 Mar 2011)
4-Barbara J COX (1925-)
4-Marilyn COX (28 Jun 1928-)
3-Henry Giese ANKENY (22 Oct 1900-14 Dec 1976)
+Irene DELANEY (17 Jul 1895-31 Jan 1990)
4-Margaret Louise ANKENY (20 Nov 1921-7 Jun 2007)
4-Jo Anne ANKENY (1924-)
4-Rita Irene ANKENY (1925-)
4-Virginia Ruth ANKENY (1928-)
2-Rosa ANKENY (9 Jun 1864-22 Aug 1864)
2-Warren Bonnet ANKENY (11 Feb 1866-1953)
+Osia JOSLYN (8 Apr 1870-1940)
3-Colin Clinton ANKENY (30 Apr 1895-19 Jun 1959)
+Irene STENWALL (1899-1 Jan 1981)
4-Colin Stenwall ANKENY Jr (20 May 1929-24 May 1998)
3-Faustina ANKENY (16 May 1900-Nov 1984)
+Paul O INGWERSEN (1890-1969)
4-C Bernhard INGWERSEN (11 Sep 1924-13 Dec 2007)
2-John Barcroft ANKENY (1 May 1867-10 Jun 1926)
+Louetta L DEVORE (18 Jul 1871-2 Oct 1930)
3-Chester Devore ANKENY (10 Apr 1891-16 May 1959)
+Grace Elinor HALL (8 May 1893-22 Nov 1983)
4-Lois Elizabeth ANKENY (22 Nov 1917-27 Sep 2004)
4-Ronald Ormel ANKENY (5 Dec 1920-10 Mar 2006)
4-Earl ANKENY (23 Sep 1922-13 Nov 1956)
4-Helen ANKENY (1925-)
3-Russell Barcroft ANKENY (19 Sep 1893-23 Dec 1988)
+Ida SHERMAN (19 Nov 1897-23 Nov 1987)
4-Ruthe L ANKENY (6 Nov 1917-2 Oct 2012)
4-John Isaiah ANKENY (21 Sep 1919-26 Sep 1985)
4-Roy Russell ANKENY (2 Jul 1922-20 Mar 1995)
4-Janet Bell ANKENY (1932-)
2-Henry G "Harry" ANKENY Jr (3 Apr 1870-6 May 1898)
+Emma CHAFFEE (24 Mar 1870-19 Aug 1957)
2-Rollin V ANKENY (27 Dec 1871-3 Aug 1956)
+Edythe M PEASE (1878-Nov 1961)
3-Harold R ANKENY (15 Mar 1901-31 Jan 1980)
+Ruth Frances WILLIS (1901-1948)
4-Rollin F ANKENY (26 Nov 1926-)
4-Barry David ANKENY (24 May 1932-8 Nov 2004)
+Eulalia "Lolly" HARRIS (1899-1979)
+Natalie Isabel HARLEY (1905-)
3-Barbara E ANKENY (5 Jul 1906-25 Jul 1988)
+James Webster ORDWAY (-)
4-Ronald ORDWAY (1934-)
2-Dr Ralph L ANKENY (2 Jan 1874-2 Jun 1973)
+Janet Arnott YUILL (1878-)
3-Ralph Clement ANKENY (4 May 1907-23 Aug 1961)
+Sybil Elinor (19 Oct 1908-3 Jun 2008)
4-Joyce "Jo" ANKENY (-)
4-Peter Ralph ANKENY (-)
2-Harriet Elizabeth ANKENY (2 Aug 1875-Sep 1967)
+Harold Horace HARRIS (11 May 1871-1946)
3-Fostina HARRIS (2 Jul 1906-20 Oct 1995)
+Louis Nelson HOOPLE (1900-1986)
4-Patricia Ann HOOPLE (5 Apr 1933-2 Apr 2005)
4-Betty L HOOPLE (1930-)
3-Arthur Ankeny HARRIS (20 Dec 1911-7 Jun 1983)
+Opal Ernestine "Jackie" HART (19 Jan 1917-31 Jul 2007)
4-Harold Hart HARRIS (1939-)
4-son HARRIS (-)
4-son HARRIS (-)
2-Ethel ANKENY (1 Feb 1882-6 May 1883)
Baby girls of Henry and Tina Ankeny:
Jessie 24 Aug 1860 to 15 Sep 1861
Rosa 9 June 1864 to 22 Aug 1864
Both babies died while their father, Henry, was gone fighting in the Civil War.
Oakland Cemetery, Corning, Adams County, Iowa
(photographed by K Wright May 2017)
Jessie 24 Aug 1860 to 15 Sep 1861
Rosa 9 June 1864 to 22 Aug 1864
Both babies died while their father, Henry, was gone fighting in the Civil War.
Oakland Cemetery, Corning, Adams County, Iowa
(photographed by K Wright May 2017)
The Legacy of Henry Giese Ankeny
“we will live long to enjoy the
society of our children”
Henry Giese Ankeny letter to Tina
Kiss Josey For Me, Page 193
society of our children”
Henry Giese Ankeny letter to Tina
Kiss Josey For Me, Page 193
As of February 23, 2016 Henry had 142 (known) descendants: 10 children, 17 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, 47 GG grandchildren, 22 GGG grandchildren and 6 GGGG grandchilden.
Joseph Newcomb Ankeny was born during the Civil War. His infancy and toddler days will forever be memorialized in the book "Kiss Josey For Me". Henry's letters home to Tina were compiled and published by Florence Marie Ankeny Cox, the granddaughter of Joseph Newcomb Ankeny. In the book, Henry often ended his letters to his wife with the words "kiss Josey for me". Little Josie grew to live a long and prosperous life. He married Elma Rogers and they had five daughters and three sons. He farmed land in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.
Joseph Newcomb and Elma Rogers Ankeny Family
Circa 1908
(from the L Cox Titus collection)
Circa 1908
(from the L Cox Titus collection)
The Children of Joseph and Elma Ankeny:
Jessie Valentine Ankeny was Joseph Newcomb Ankeny's oldest child. She married Henry Lacy and they were missionaries in China for many years. Their four children were born in China. They lived the last years of their lives in California. Jessie was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Blanche Ankeny married Charles Chapman. She only lived to be 27 years old. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Adams County, Iowa.
Ralph Dewalt Ankeny married Ida Rhine and they had six children. They farmed in Adams County, Iowa until about 1925 when they moved with five of their children to Winnebago County, Iowa. Their sixth child, Shirley, was born late in their marriage. Ralph packed up his family and moved out to California in the 1940's, however, they returned to Iowa when Ida became ill. Ida died in Iowa at the age of 57 and little Shirley was then only 12 years old. Ralph lived to be 85 years old. He and Ida are buried in the Olena Mount Cemetery, Buffalo Center, Winnebago County, Iowa. Four of Ralph's children continued to live in and raise families in north central Iowa.
Helen Lucile Ankeny married Emil Johnson and they moved to California and made California their permanent home.
Homer R Ankeny also moved from Iowa to California.
Harriet Louise Ankeny married Ralph Little and they too moved to California.
Florence Marie Ankeny married Harold Herbert Cox. Mr. Cox was a dentist in Nebraska. They had three children, one son and two daughters while living in Nebraska. Seeking a better future Florence and Harold moved their family from Nebraska to California. In 1974 Florence completed the compilation and publication of the book "Kiss Josey For Me" which is a wonderful collection of letters from her grandfather, Henry Giese Ankeny, to his wife during the Civil War. Florence was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Florence and Dr. Cox are buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial P:ark, in Glendale, California.
Henry Giese Ankeny is the youngest child of Joseph Newcomb Ankeny. He married Irene Delaney and they had four children. They moved from Iowa to Idaho. They are buried in the Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho.
The Legacy / Children of Henry Giese Ankeny continued:
Warren Bonnet Ankeny was born, lived, died and buried in Adams County, Iowa. His middle name, Bonnet, is after Rosina Bonnet Ankeny of Somerset County, Pennsylvania -- the wife of Peter Ankeny -- his Great Grandparents. Warren married Osia and they were business owners in Quincy and Corning. They had two children. Warren and Osia are buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in the Ankeny family plot.
John Barcroft Ankeny married Louetta Devore and they had two sons. They farmed in eastern Nebraska. His middle name, Barcroft, comes from the husband of his Aunt Susan Fletcher Ankeny Barcroft who was a highly respected attorney and an important contributor to the Joseph and Harriet Ankeny family of Des Moines, Iowa.
Henry Giese "Harry" Ankeny Jr. died at the young age of 28. He is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Rollin Valentine Ankeny shares the full name of his uncle -- General Rollin Valentine Ankeny. Rollin served in the Spanish American War as Corporal. He married Edythe Pease. They lived in Tuolumne, California for a short time where their son was born. They moved to Florida where their daughter was born. Rollin and Edythe built a home on the property purchased by his uncle -- John Fletcher Ankeny on South Indian River Drive in Ankona, Florida. He was Postmaster, Fruit Grower and Florist in Ankona. His two children continued to live in Florida. His daughter was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Rollin Valentine and Edythe Pease Ankeny are buried in the Palm Cemetery, Ankona, St Lucie County, Florida on the same road their home sits.
Ralph L Ankeny became a dentist. He married Janet Yuill. They had one son. Dr. Ankeny practiced dentistry in Iowa and then moved to LaSalle County, Illinois. He lived to be 99 years old. He died in St Petersburg, Florida.
Their son, Ralph Clement Ankeny, studied at the University of Iowa, was married to Sybil and had two children. Ralph C and Sybil lived in Illinois and are buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois. Ankeny family artifacts have been donated to the State of Iowa Historical Museum by the children of Ralph C and grandchildren of Dr. Ralph L Ankeny.
Their son, Ralph Clement Ankeny, studied at the University of Iowa, was married to Sybil and had two children. Ralph C and Sybil lived in Illinois and are buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois. Ankeny family artifacts have been donated to the State of Iowa Historical Museum by the children of Ralph C and grandchildren of Dr. Ralph L Ankeny.
Civil War Sword of Captain Henry Giese Ankeny, donated to the Iowa Historical Museum by his Great Grandchildren.
Harriet Elizabeth Ankeny married Harold Horace Harris in Adams County, Iowa. They owned a business in Orient, Adair County, Iowa. They had two children and like many memers of the Henry Giese Ankeny family, their son moved to California. Harriet Elizabeth was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Harriet's Mother, Tina, was living with Harriet in 1920. Harriet lived to be 92 years old. Harold and Harriet Harris are buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery -- the same cemetery as her parents and brother, Warren.