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 was appointed a member of the Pan-American Exposition Commission and became its chairman.

He was chairman of the Committee on Coast and Insular Survey (Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Congresses).

Ankeny was member in Freemason order in Willamette Lodge No.

1, Knights Templar, Lawson Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and El Kalif Shrine in Spokane, Washington.