It is not unusual that someone who is researching an individual within the 62d  will discover duplications in their subject’s name, especially in their last name.  The person transcribing the data from the original handwritten document into a modern typed font, may have inadvertently misidentified individual letters within that name .  However, several different spellings were made in both the civilian and military documents of this veteran infantryman ;  Edward Ganung, Edmond Ganung, Edward Gannung, Edward Genung and Edmund Gannung. All military records, burial information, and pension accounts were double checked to confirm that, regardless of the spelling, they all served in Company A, 62d New York State Volunteer Infantry.  No other person with the above spellings were listed in the 62d's roster.  For the purposes of this biography, we will be using the name used in his initial enlistment data: Edward Gannung

Edward Gannung was born on March 1st, 1840, in New Salem, New York. He enlisted, at the age of 21,  into the 62d on May 15, 1861 and was mustered into Co. A on July 3, 1861.  He was born to Nathan Delevan Gannung ( 1801-1877), a farmer, and Sally Field Gannung (1806-1849).  He came from a large family which included his siblings Starr Gannung (1843-1905), Eugenia Gannung (1845-?), Ann Augusta Gannung (1831-1856) and Field Gannung (1829-1899). Looking into the Family Tree section of Ancestry. com, the Gannung name dates back to the 17th century in New England, but for the purpose of tracing this individual Private’s  family, no attempt was made to gather any additional information before 1800.

Edward’s enlistment information states that he was 5’3” tall, with blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, and that his occupation was that of a filo cutter. An attempt to find the definition of a filo cutter in dictionaries and encyclopedias ranging from the 1840’s to today provide a wide range of possibilities, from being a sharpener of circular saw blades  to an individual who makes flakey Greek pastry. 

Private Gannung served in all the major engagement of the 62d and re-enlisted  on January 1, 1864, thus earning the honored title of “veteran.”  He was wounded during the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5th, 1864 but no additional information of the nature of the injury could be found.  After recuperating from his wound, he returned to his regiment, and served until the discharge of the 62d at Fort Schuyler, New York Harbor, on August 30, 1865.  In 1871, Edward filed a request for a veteran’s pension under an invalid status, but it appears that he continued to work as a carpenter. The Federal Census records for 1880 show him as living at an undisclosed address on Park Avenue with his occupation being that of painter. The New York City Directory for 1886 shows him living at 432 West 100th Street, employed as a painter.

In 1887, Edward married Jessie (whose maiden name could not be clearly identified), who was 21 years his junior, in Brooklyn, New York. No records of any children could be found. There is a mention in family records of a first wife, Mary F., but outside of the name, no additional information on this possible relationship could be found. Federal Census records revealed that Jessie was born in Missouri, with her father being born in Kansas and her mother coming from France. The 1890 Veteran’s Schedule, (which lists Civil War veterans in each state, regardless of the state the veteran served under during the war) listed Edward as living in St. Joseph ,Missouri.  Edward and Jessie moved back to Brooklyn and by 1900 Edward became employed at the Brooklyn Navy yard as a painter earning $3.28 per week.

Edward continued to be employed as a painter until his death on August 31, 1912. Jessie filed for widow’s  status on September 10, 1912. The request for this pension and a military headstone was made under the name of Edmund Ganung.  However both requests confirmed that Edmund served with Co. A of the 62d New York Infantry. He was interred in Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.   Jessie is thought to have died in Texas about 1928.