Henry Lankenau moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana from Bremen, Germany in 1844. At the age of 19 he enlisted in Company D of the 5th Indiana Cavalry. He was captured by the confederates during the seige of Atlanta, and held at Andersonville Prison. After the war he returned to Fort Wayne and worked as a printer, and deputy county sheriff. He later moved to Decatur and taught school.

Berne Witness, Adams County, Indiana
Friday, Dec. 9, 1910

HENRY LANKENAU
Best Known German In Adams County
Soldier and German Teacher For Over 25 Years

Monday morning Henry Lankenau, one of the best known citizens of Decatur, a veteran of the civil war, passed away, had been in failing health for more than a year during which time he had suffered much from asthma, to which later were added paralysis and heart trouble. Friday evening the last attack came. At the time his condition became most critical and it was known that the end was not far distant. Mr. Lankenau at death was still a comparatively young man, being but sixty-seven years of age, but his life had been one of much usefulness. He was the son of Frank and Catharine Lankenau and was born in Bremen, Germany, September 19, 1843. His father was a shipbuilder there, but a year after Henry's birth, decided to come to this country, which they did, landing at New Orleans. Later they followed the Mississippi river northward and finally came to Indiana, settling in Ft. Wayne, where the elder Mr. Lankenau worked at the carpenter trade. Henry was the eldest of the family of eight children. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in the union ranks, early in the summer of 1862. His company was sent to the front, and saw much active service. During the siege of Atlanta by the federal troops he was taken a prisoner and sent to the Andersonville prison, where he endured all the hardship and horrors for months, and in other southern prisons. He returned to his home in Fort Wayne broken in health, and after recuperating took up a printer's life for a few years, and then decided to become a teacher. In 1875, he went to Van Wert county, Ohio where he taught four years and then returned to Indiana, settling in Adams county. He became teacher here of the St. John's parochial school in Preble township, where he served faithfully and well for twenty-one years. In this time he became known as one of the most efficient teachers in northeastern Indiana and many of the prominent men in the township today owe their introduction into the world of education to Mr. Lankenau's kindly and intelligent instruction. After the close of his service there, he moved to Decatur. For a number of years he served as probation officer of Adams county. Funeral occurred Tuesday from the Lutheran church.