William S. Bumpus Jr., farmer, P.O. Mount Vernon, was born 
May 22, 1837, in Hanover County, Va.  His father, William S. Bumpus, Sr., 
was a native of Virginia.  He was also a farmer, and had also served an 
apprenticeship at the house-carpenter trade, in Old Virginia.  He moved 
to Kentucky in 1838, and there our subject was reared and schooled.  He 
came to this county about fourteen years ago, and is yet living.  His 
father, Evan Bumpus, was a native of Virginia.  The mother of our 
subject, Charlotte Buckner, was a native of Virginia, and the mother of 
six children.  

Our subject was joined in matrimony, in Butler County, 
Ky., to Miss Elizabeth Sharer, born December 24, 1837, in Butler 
County, Ky.  She was a daughter of John and Rosa Ann Sharer, both natives 
of Kentucky.  This union resulted in seven children, now living, viz.: 
Charles H., born October 27, 1858; Eugenia C., born July 31, 1860; 
William, born September 25, 1864; Theodore, born December 28, 169; 
Millard, born November 9, 1871; Edgard, born December 26, 1874; 
Alpheus, born October 21, 1877.  
Mr. Bumpus is a member of the A., F. & A.M., Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 31; and 
I.O.O.F. Williams Lodge, No 242; also a member of the Encampment.  
He has a farm of 240 acres, and came to this county in 1856.  

He has been Justice of the Peace four years; was re-elected and resigned.  
He then was Supervisor, being the first in the township; served three years; 
then was Collector three years, and is now Township Supervisor.  

In politics, he is identified with no particular party.

Source: The History of Jefferson County, Illinois
by William Henry Perrin
Published by Globe Pub. Co. in 1883)
Pg 88

Submitted by Sandy Bauer



William S. Bumpus, a public-spirited citizen who has ably occupied various 
important positions of local trust, and is widely known throughout Jefferson 
County, has long been one of the leading and successful agriculturists of 
Dodd's Township.  He is a man of sterling integrity, and commands the high 
regard of the entire community in which his busy life has been passed. In the 
spring of 1893 he removed with his family to the farm on section 34, where they 
are now living.

Our subject was born in Hanover County, VA, May 22, 1836, and is the eldest 
of the six children born to W.S. and Charlotte Bumpus. His brothers and sisters 
are, Marta, R.M., L.N., Sarah M. and P.R.   They are all living in Spring Garden 
Township, this county, with the exception of L.N., who makes his home in Texas.

The father of our subject was likewise born and reared in Virginia, and there 
made his home until about 1838, when, having married, he removed with his family 
to Butler County, KY., and engaged in farm pursuits.  He made his home in the 
Blue Grass state until 1860, when he came to Illinois and located in Spring 
Garden Township, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying at the age of 
seventy-six years.  The maiden name of our subject's mother was Charlotte Buckner; 
she was likewise a native of Virginia, and departed this life in 1888. Grandfather 
Evan Bumpus was a Virginia by birth, and spent his entire life in that state.

Our subject was quite young when his parents removed to Kentucky, where he was 
given a good education and remained until reaching his majority. Then having come 
to Illinois, he made a start in life for himself, and began working in a grist and 
saw mill on Moore's Prairie.  He was thus employed at that place for two years, 
when he went to Spring Garden Township, where he found employment in a sawmill.  
In the meantime having saved his earnings he invested his money in land in that 
township, and for several years combined the occupations of a farmer and laborer 
in a a sawmill. Later he established a mill of his own, and for a number of years 
carried on the most extensive business in that line in the county.

Mr. Bumpus made his home in Spring Garden Township for eighteen years, and in 
1879 located in Dodd's Township, which place has since been his home. Here his first 
purchase of land consisted of eighty acres, to which he subsequently added until 
he owned a large estate of three hundred acres.  This he has reduced, however, 
by giving his two eldest sons a small farm when they were ready to start out in life.  
While residing on that farm our subject erected a handsome and commodious residence, 
in which the family made their home until the spring of 1892, when he disposed of 
his farm and removed to another tract of land which he owned near by.  On this he 
has erected a comfortable dwelling, in which he hopes to pass his declining years.

While residing in Kentucky, Mr. Bumpus was married, January 11, 1858, to Miss 
Elizabeth T. Sharrer, who was born in that state December 28, 1836.   She was the 
daughter of John and Rose Ann Sharrer, who reared a family of four children, only 
three of whom are living, namely: Mary A., Mrs. John Fitzgerald, residing in Kentucky, 
where also Antha, Mrs. James Sharrer, makes her home, and Mrs. Bumpus. Thomas Sharrer, 
the brother was a soldier during the late Civil War, and died soon after peace was 
declared, from the effects of exposure and hardships which he endured while in the service.

The six children comprising the family of our subject and his wife are, Charles, a 
farmer of Dodd's Township; Eugenia, Mrs. William Wallace, of Spring Garden Township; 
William T., residing in Kansas City, Mo.; Millard F., making his home in this township; 
Edgar and Alpheus R., at home.  Mr. Bumpus has been inseparably associated with the 
political affairs of his township and county for a number of years, and has filled 
many of the important positions within the gift of his fellow citizens. He was a Democrat 
in politics until the formation of the Greenback party, but of later years he has joined 
the ranks of the People's party.  He was elected Justice of the Peace prior tot he 
organization of the township, and after serving several years in the capacity resigned.  
Later he filled the office of Supervisor, and after removing to Dodd's Township was 
elected Township Collector, Supervisor and Township Clerk.

Mr. Bumpus, in 1883, was appointed Postmaster of Bumpus Post office, and after serving 
for nine years offered his resignation.  He has also rendered efficient service as School 
Treasurer, having filled the office since 1886.  He is recognized by all as one of the 
representative and honored citizens of the county, and has accomplished much good in his 
life. Socially, he is a member of the masonic order, affiliating with Mt. Vernon Lodge 
No. 31 since 1869.  In 1865 he became a member of Spring Garden Lodge No. 242, I.O.O.F., 
with which he is still connected.


Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and 
Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894

Submitted by Sandy Bauer