General Rollin V. Ankeny (1901)

ANKENY, HUNTER, SOUERS

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:23

The Des Moines Leader
Des Moines, Iowa
Wednesday, December 5, 1901
Page 2, Columns 3 & 4

DEATH OF GEN. R. V, ANKENY
SUCCUMBS TO PNEUMONIA YESTERDAY MORNING.

Was Taken to Mercy Hospital Friday, but Until Monday Evening was Believed to Be on the Road to Recovery--His Career.

Following fast upon an attack of pneumonia, super induced by exposure during the recent severe cold weather, General R. V. Ankeny, of this city, died at Mercy Hospital yesterday morning at 9:30 o’clock. He was in his usual health Thursday, but Friday morning he complained of illness, and an examination having disclosed that he was affected with incipient symptoms of pneumonia, he was taken to the hospital. The change seemed for a time to benefit him, and no especial apprehension was entertained until Monday night when the symptoms suddenly changed, and in an hour his life hung in the balance. He soon became unconscious and though every effort was made to revive him, he did not recover, and died at the hour mentioned.

The remains were taken to the undertaking establishment to be prepared for burial. Deceased was identified with the G. A. R., the Union Veterans’ Union and the Masonic order for many years, and it is probable the funeral will be held under the auspices of the G. A. R. in which he gained a great deal of prominence because of the interest he took in the affairs of the organization. At the time of his death he was coroner of the county, a position to which he was thrice elected by overwhelming majorities. He was a stalwart republican in politics, but he had many personal friends among democrats of the county who never failed to record their votes for him at the polls.

General Ankeny greatly delighted to have a number of old veterans assemble at his office to fight over again the battles of the rebellion. He had seen strenuous service as a soldier and greatly enjoyed relating thrilling experiences encountered in service. His office was for this reason, a rendezvous for many veterans of the civil war, who beguiled the time in relating incidents tragic, serious, dramatic and comic of the days Sheridan, Grant, Sherman and Logan led the legions of the Union to battle with those in rebellion against the government.

For three or four years preceding his death he acted as assistant overseer for the poor and had a great deal to do with relieving their wants. Naturally of an emotional and sympathetic nature, he was easily imposed upon for a time, but experience soon enabled him to sift the wheat from the chaff, and in a short time learned to pick out the deserving from those who would not hesitate to apply for alms when in no need of or who were amply able to do for themselves.

There remains to deplore his death a son, Rollin, for several years past cashier of a large bank at Seattle, Washington; a daughter, Mrs. P. H. Hunter, a resident of Los Angeles, and a brother, Captain Henry Ankeny, whose home is near Corning, Iowa. Mrs. Webb Souers of this city was a niece.

General Ankeny’s Record - General Ankeny came to Polk county in 1879. His father and mother, who were pioneer residents of the county, died a few years ago on the old farm north of the city, and the station of Ankeny was named for them. The wife of deceased also died at the farm about twenty-two years ago. Being then far advanced in years and unable to follow the occupation of farming he removed to the city. He served for several year as assistant overseer of the poor under Supervisor Brewer, and when Frank T. Morris was elected to the board, General Ankeny was retained. Later he was elected coroner. This office he held for four years. He was re-elected for the third time last fall, and was serving his third term at the time of his death. He is reputed to have died possessed of an estate valued at $10,000 or $12.000, mostly represented by a farm situated near Ankeny.

Deceased was born May 22, 1830, on the site of the first settlement and blockhouse built by his grandfather and a number of comrades who scaled the mountain, coming from Maryland to Pennsylvania. The town of Somerset, Pa., occupies a portion of the site at this time. His parents, General Joseph and Harriett G. Ankeny, emigrated by wagon in 1831 to Ohio, where they located in Holmes county. Four sons and three daughters were born to them.

In his youth deceased devoted considerable time to the study of medicine, and afterwards was part owner of the first drug store at Millersburg, O. He was married at Millersburg to Sarah daughter of Dr. J. S. Irvine, his medical preceptor. In 1854, himself and wife removed to Illinois, where they pre-empted a tract of 320 acres of fine prairie land near Freeport. He improved the land and lived on the farm for twenty years. He early identified himself with the republican party, and was one of the local committee appointed to welcome Lincoln to Freeport in 1855, when the great emancipator had the series of memorable debates with Stephen A. Douglass on the slavery question.

When, following the election of Lincoln, the surge of rebellion heat against the north, he responded to the call for and was among the first to proffer his services to the government. He enlisted recruits for the Eleventh and Fifteenth Illinois regiments, and later went into camp at Springfield with six companies from Stephenson county as member of the Fifteenth Illinois volunteers. He was orderly sergeant. First Lieutenant and Captain in the Forts Henry and Donelson campaign, serving under Colonel Thayer in command of the brigade on the right of Wallace's Third division.

On the morning of the surrender of Fort Henry, Captain Ankeny was ordered to Dover Landing to take charge of the prisoners. Returning to Fort Henry, the Forty-sixth was brigaded with the Fourteenth and Twenty-fifth Illinois, and the Twentv-fifth and Fifty-third Indiana, under Brigadier Gcneral Veach, who, with the Second Iowa, made the successful charge at Donelson. After Donelson this brigade is marked as the originators of the G. A. R. In the spring of 1864 General Ankeny was ordered home and organized the One Hundred and Forty-second Illinois and continued in service until mustered out brigadier general for meritorious and valuable service.

He returned to his family and home in Illinois. He removed to Polk county in 1879 and engaged in farming and dealing in stock. When the Rock Island road was extended to Winterset he went to that town and engaged in the lumber business. While thus occupied he was appointed a deputy United States marshal, and in 1882 returned to Des Moines. Being severely injured in a railroad wreck near Sioux City, he resigned the office. Afterward he went with the tide of early emigration to the Black Hills, where he laid the foundation for a substantial competence. This he lost by reason of confiding in the honesty of friends, who only invited his confidence to take advantage of him while he was absent by the bedside of his wife, who was very ill. Later he re-entered the service as special agent for the interior department, traveling extensively in Florida, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. At the close of his services with the government he returned to his farm in Polk county, but soon came to the city, where he continued to make hios home until his death.

The funeral will probably be held Saturday or Sunday, the time being dependent upon the date of arrival of Rollin Ankeny from Seattle. A telegram was received from Mr. Ankeny last evening stating he would take the first train to Des Moines, but whether he will arrive Saturday or Sunday has not yet been ascertained, though it is probable he will reach the city Saturday morning.
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Transcriber's note: The timeline noted herein is questionable. The Rock Island railroad came to Winterset in early 1872. General Ankeny appears in the 1873 Madison County census.

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