OBIT: William CHAMPENO, 1889, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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WILLIAM CHAMPENO.
A Good Soldier Passes Over to the Great Majority.

  At 6 o'clock Wednesday morning Mr. William Champeno, for years a resident 
of this city, died at his home, No. 961 Sixteenth street.  He had been ill 
for a period of ten days and death was the result of nervous prostration.  
For years past the deceased had been an employe of the Pennsylvania railroad 
company and held a position in the oil house at Sixteenth street.  He was 
born at Duncansville, March 25, 1843, and on the 23d of February, 1879, was 
married to Miss H. Alice Nicodemus.  To them were born four children, all of 
whom are living, the youngest being 4 years of age.  His mother, who is 84 
years old, still survives, and he also leaves three brothers and four sisters 
as follows: Peter Champeno, of Hollidaysburg; John Champeno, of Johnstown; 
George Champeno, of Baker's Mines; Mrs. Joseph Gardner, Mrs. C. S. Nicodemus, 
Mrs. T. F. Johnson, of Altoona, and Mrs. A. Bolton, of Pittsburgh.
  Mr. Champeno was a member of the First Lutheran church of Altoona.  He also 
belonged to post 468, Grand Army of the Republic; Encampment No. 17, Union 
Veteran Legion; to Mountain City lodge No. 837, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows; to Altoona council No. 15, Order Chosen Friends, and to the 
Pennsylvania Railroad Relief Fund.
  The deceased was a good soldier and lost a limb in the service of his 
country.  He was a corporal in company C (Captain John W. Hicks), Seventy-six 
regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, better known as the Keystone Zouaves.  He 
was mustered into the service October 17, 1861, and was with the regiment up 
to and including the assault on Fort Wagner, S.C., on the morning of July 11, 
1863.  In this brave charge he was shot through the knee and captured by the 
confederates, placed in one of their hospitals in Charleston, and afterwards 
at Columbia, South Caroline, his leg amputated by rebel surgeons.  Afterwards 
he was placed in prison at Belle Island, and from there he went to 
Philadelphia, having been exchanged.  He was discharged on a surgeon's 
certificate, August 24, 1864, after having undergone untold privations.

Altoona Tribune, February 14, 1889