William Thomas Bushman, who also called himself "Heine Busch" was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 21, 1915. In an article that appeared in Life Magazine, March 8, 1948 titled 'Minnesota has a Writing Boom,' page 125 the author wrote as a caption to a photograph on page 127: "William T. Bushman, a 30 year old ex-GI who attends the university writing course given by Novelist Saul Bellow. Bill Bushman, who for years was a hobo, still haunts Minneapolis' Skid Row to pick up local color for his short stories and talented drawings."

William T. Bushman died in Shingobee Township, near Duluth, Minnesota on February 1, 1998.