He was born in 1830/31, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: date: 3 (31 in 1862), 7 (1830), 8 (57 in 1887). place: 3]
When he enlisted, he was a fisherman. [source: 3]
When he enlisted, he was 6 feet 0 inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair. [source: 3]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 1 January 1862. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Weeks. He was a private in company F. [sources: 1, 3, 5]
He was discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, on 12 June 1862, or possibly 1 June 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability. He was a private, in company F. [sources: 1 (1 Jun), 2 (12 Jun), 3 (12 (?) Jun), 5]
In June 1863, he registered for the draft. He was living in Brooklyn, Kings County, new York. He was a fisherman, and was married. [source: 9]
On 24 January 1887, he applied unsuccessfully for a pension. [sources: 4, 6]
He died on 1 October 1888. He was buried in Canarsie Cemetery, Canarsie, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York. [sources: 4, 7, 8]
His widow applied successfully for a pension. [source: 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])
5 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (William B Vanhonden)
6 pension index, by name (William B Vanhonder [sic])
7 Find a grave, 71481090, created by Maxine Kravitz, added 16 June 2011, accessed 29 April 2015 (William B Van Houten [sic])
8 headstone, transcribed 29 Apr 15 from Find a grave, 71481090, created by Maxine Kravitz, added 16 June 2011, accessed 29 April 2015 (William B Van Houten (sic))
9 Consolidated enrollment lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union draft record), National Archives and Records Administration, record group 110 (William Van Houten)