For John F. Ankeny and his wife, Sarah, the 80-acre tract they purchased in 1874 was perfect for the town they envisioned. It was surrounded by coal mines and farms and close to the state capital, and plans for a railroad through their property assured success. By 1881, the town had several homes and businesses and a 33cents train fare into Des Moines. Through fires and war, Ankeny was nurtured by a strong sense of community and people whose names are still familiar today: superintendent Ed Neveln, the Kirkendall brothers, businessman "Uncle Henry" Wagner, and Charles Irvine and his...