He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3). He was 31 years old when he was enlisted (3).
He was a fisherman when he was enlisted (3).
He was 6 feet 0 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair (3).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 1 January 1862 (1, 3). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Weeks (3). He served as a private in company F (1).
He was discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, on 12 June 1862, or possibly 1 June 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability (1 [1 Jun], 2 [12 Jun], 3 [12 (?) Jun]).
On 24 January 1887, he applied unsuccessfully for a pension (4).
He died on 1 October 1888 (4).
His widow applied successfully for a pension (4).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (W B Van Howden)
2 company F, register of men discharged (William B Van Howden)
3 company F, descriptive roll, #98 (William B Van Howden)
4 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (William B Van Hondon [sic])
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the pension index by name (searched April 2007)]
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veterans' census (searched 5 June 2009)]