Levi Ankeny

Levi Ankeny
United States Senator
from Washington
In office
March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1909
Preceded byGeorge Turner
Succeeded byWesley L. Jones
Personal details
Born(1844-08-01)August 1, 1844
Buchanan County, Missouri
DiedMarch 29, 1921(1921-03-29) (aged 76)
Walla Walla, Washington
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Jane Nesmith

Levi Ankeny (August 1, 1844 – March 29, 1921) was a Republican United States Senator from the state of Washington.

He was born in Buchanan County, Missouri, near St. Joseph, but crossed the plains to Oregon in 1850 with his parents and settled in Portland. He attended the rural schools and later Kingsley Academy in Portland.

He worked in business in Lewiston, Idaho; Orofino, Idaho; and Florence, Idaho. He also became the mayor of Lewiston. He moved to Walla Walla, Washington, and engaged in banking. He was appointed a member of the Pan-American Exposition Commission and became its chairman.

In 1902 he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate, and served from March 4, 1903, to March 3, 1909. He failed to be renominated in 1908. He was chairman of the Committee on Coast and Insular Survey (Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Congresses).

In 1867 he married Mary Jane (Jennie) Nesmith, daughter of Oregon Senator James W. Nesmith: they had five children. Ankeny was member in Freemason order in Willamette Lodge No. 2, Portland, Oregon in 1866. He would later join Walla Walla Lodge No. 7 in 1878. He was also a member of Walla Walla Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons, Washington Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar, Lawson Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and El Kalif Shrine in Spokane, Washington.

He worked in banking in Walla Walla until his death on March 29, 1921, and was interred at the Masonic Cemetery.

He is the namesake of the town of Ankeny, Washington.[1]

He is also the namesake of Ankeny Field at Whitman College.[2]

References

  1. ^ Meany, Edmond S. (1923). Origin of Washington geographic names. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 8.
  2. ^ "Ankeny Field Through the Years". Whitman College. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Washington
1903–1909
Served alongside: Addison G. Foster, Samuel H. Piles 		Succeeded by