William E. Cundy was born in Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada, on Aug. 13, 1838. He attended schools in Baring, Maine, where he got his first insight into the lumber business. In 1854, he came with his parents to Minnesota, arriving in Anoka on October 12th of that year. The family lived at the Fairbanks boarding house until a house could be constructed. William first worked at several of the many saw mills in Anoka. He enlisted in April at St Anthony. He was mustered into Company E on May 23, 1861. Records indicate that he was 5' 9" tall. He had a light complexion, blue eyes and light colored hair. On Sept. 17, 1862, at the battle of Antietam, he was wounded and captured. In December 1862, he and the other captured veterans from the First were exchanged. Bill also participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. On Sept. 12. 1863, suffering from "Remittent Fever", he was admitted to the Washington Hall Army Hospital in Alexandria, VA. He was not returned to duty until Feb. 5, 1864. He was mustered out with the regiment on May 3, 1864. William returned to Minnesota, settled in Anoka and took work as a mill man, in the mills of the area. He was married Sept. 22, 1864, to Alice D. Frost. They had five children: Earnest, Alice (Mrs Frederick Godecke), Narcissa, George, and John. William died in Anoka, on Feb 18, 1912. He was 73 years old. He was buried in the Anoka Cemetery on West Main Street. Sources: History of Anoka County, p 203. Letter from William Lochren to Mathew Marvin, April 10, 1872. Military Medical Record, William E. Cundy, National Archives, Wash. D. C. Military Pension & Widow's Pension Record, William E. Cundy, National Archives, Wash. D. C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
