William was born on 25 May 1845 in Mechanicsburg, Champaign Co., Ohio. He became a "woolen worker" until he enlisted in Co. H, 47th Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1861. On May 16, 1863, he was wounded at the Battle of Champion Hill, Miss., but served until the end of the war. Afterward he became known as "Roving Bill" because he lived the vagabond life of a hobo. Reverend James McCook of Hartford, Conn., began a correspondence with Bill as he roamed the U.S. from coast to coast. The Reverend published Bill's letters to him in a nine-part series of articles titled "Leaves from the Diary of a Tramp" from 1893 until about 1901. Bill passed away at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky on 14 Nov. 1921, and was buried in the Veterans' Home cemetery.
His obituary reads: "Wm. H. Aspinwall, Co H, 47 Ind. V. I., aged 76, died Monday at 9:30 p. m. He is survived by Mrs. Thurman Tomlinson of Lima, Mrs. Lydia Hawkins of Toledo, sisters of the deceased, and Wallace Aspinwall, a brother, of Adrian, Mich. Mrs. Ada Aspinwall, a daughter-in-law of Lima, and Mrs. Margaret Neal of Toledo have been notified of our comrade's death. Burial will be at the home cemetery Thursday at 10 a. m. The deceased was admitted May 7, 1920. His money and other effects will be turned over to the children of Mrs. Aspinwall of Lima."
Roving Bill's days of rambling had finally come to an end. Submitted by his great-grandson, James Morgans, who is still chasing Bill's elusive story.
His obituary reads: "Wm. H. Aspinwall, Co H, 47 Ind. V. I., aged 76, died Monday at 9:30 p. m. He is survived by Mrs. Thurman Tomlinson of Lima, Mrs. Lydia Hawkins of Toledo, sisters of the deceased, and Wallace Aspinwall, a brother, of Adrian, Mich. Mrs. Ada Aspinwall, a daughter-in-law of Lima, and Mrs. Margaret Neal of Toledo have been notified of our comrade's death. Burial will be at the home cemetery Thursday at 10 a. m. The deceased was admitted May 7, 1920. His money and other effects will be turned over to the children of Mrs. Aspinwall of Lima."
Roving Bill's days of rambling had finally come to an end. Submitted by his great-grandson, James Morgans, who is still chasing Bill's elusive story.
William was born on 25 May 1845 in Mechanicsburg, Champaign Co., Ohio. He became a "woolen worker" until he enlisted in Co. H, 47th Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1861. On May 16, 1863, he was wounded at the Battle of Champion Hill, Miss., but served until the end of the war. Afterward he became known as "Roving Bill" because he lived the vagabond life of a hobo. Reverend James McCook of Hartford, Conn., began a correspondence with Bill as he roamed the U.S. from coast to coast. The Reverend published Bill's letters to him in a nine-part series of articles titled "Leaves from the Diary of a Tramp" from 1893 until about 1901. Bill passed away at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky on 14 Nov. 1921, and was buried in the Veterans' Home cemetery.
His obituary reads: "Wm. H. Aspinwall, Co H, 47 Ind. V. I., aged 76, died Monday at 9:30 p. m. He is survived by Mrs. Thurman Tomlinson of Lima, Mrs. Lydia Hawkins of Toledo, sisters of the deceased, and Wallace Aspinwall, a brother, of Adrian, Mich. Mrs. Ada Aspinwall, a daughter-in-law of Lima, and Mrs. Margaret Neal of Toledo have been notified of our comrade's death. Burial will be at the home cemetery Thursday at 10 a. m. The deceased was admitted May 7, 1920. His money and other effects will be turned over to the children of Mrs. Aspinwall of Lima."
Roving Bill's days of rambling had finally come to an end. Submitted by his great-grandson, James Morgans, who is still chasing Bill's elusive story.
His obituary reads: "Wm. H. Aspinwall, Co H, 47 Ind. V. I., aged 76, died Monday at 9:30 p. m. He is survived by Mrs. Thurman Tomlinson of Lima, Mrs. Lydia Hawkins of Toledo, sisters of the deceased, and Wallace Aspinwall, a brother, of Adrian, Mich. Mrs. Ada Aspinwall, a daughter-in-law of Lima, and Mrs. Margaret Neal of Toledo have been notified of our comrade's death. Burial will be at the home cemetery Thursday at 10 a. m. The deceased was admitted May 7, 1920. His money and other effects will be turned over to the children of Mrs. Aspinwall of Lima."
Roving Bill's days of rambling had finally come to an end. Submitted by his great-grandson, James Morgans, who is still chasing Bill's elusive story.
Inscription
Wm. W. Aspinwall, Co. H, 47th Ind. Inf.
Gravesite Details
Note: Many thanks to Toni for supplying the headstone photo on 12 June 2012. Toni is a photo volunteer: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47757967
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