James Anway is one of the earliest settlers of Ingham township. He came to Howard Co., Iowa, in 1856, where he took a claim of 160 acres, upon which he lived five years, then exchanged for his present home. He occupies the farm taken by John Staley, one of the earliest settlers of this township. Mr. Anway was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Aug. 14, 1814. His parents (James Anway and Lydia Davis) were natives of New York, and were among the pioneers of Ohio, where they engaged in farming and where James remained until emigrating to Iowa. He was married in (January 01,) 1837 to Caroline Od(ell), who died in 1866, leaving eleven children. He was again married in 1868 to Nancy M(iranda) Watkins, of Franklin county, who has borne him six children, five of whom are living---Caroline, James, Nathan, Lorenzo and Freddie. Mr. Anway has held the office of trustee. His son, W. H., has a blacksmith shop at Hansell, which trade he acquired by his own effort, and is doing a successful business. Source: History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo Counties, Iowa 1883, Page 436 and continues on Page 437 Union Publishing Company, Springfield, Ill. 1883. (Notes added)

Son of James Anway who changed his last name from Nanny about the time of James Jr's birth, along with James Sr's father George and all of George's children and grandchildren.

Married Caroline Jane Odell January 01, 1837 in Delaware Co, Ohio. Chidren: Erastus, William, Lydia, George, Sylvia, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Vienna, Armenus (aka Charles?), Lucinda, Ambers, Amberson, Isabelle. Married Nancy Miranda Watkins June 16, 1868 in Franklin Co, Iowa. Children: Caroline, James. Nathan, Lewis, Frederick, William.

Armenus, who appears in the 1960 census as Artemus, and the 1970 census as Orminous is probably the same person who later appears as Charles (O) Anway in 1920-1940.

Many versions of this family have a James H Anway b. 1855-1860. This is a long-standing error and should be removed from family trees. It resulted from a misreading of James H Amory's marriage to Estella Mendell. See Find A Grave Memorial# 101318648.