When Charles Elmer Ankney was born on 28 December 1898, in Washington, United States, his father, William Henry Ankney, was 40 and his mother, Julia Alice Sisson, was 34. He married Goldie Emmaline Wright on 20 October 1919, in Lewis, Idaho, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Nez Perce, Idaho, United States in 1935 and Lapwai, Nez Perce, Idaho, United States in 1940. He died on 14 May 1952, at the age of 53, and was buried in Sedro-Woolley, Skagit, Washington, United States.