For sixteen years William Lee Bumpus has been tax assessor of Madison county at Jackson and he is one of this county's most popular and efficient public officials. He was born in Madison county on the 28th of June, 1864, a son of John D. and Maggie E. (Giles) Bumpus. His paternal grandfather, A. A. Bumpus, was born in May, 1811, in Person county, North Carolina. He emigrated to Tennessee in 1820 and located in Williamson county. He was married at Springhill to Miss Mary J. Porter, whose demise occurred in 1847. Some time later he was again married, Miss E. T. Frazier becoming his wife. The maternal grandfather was Calvin Giles, a native of Middle Tennessee. John D. Bumpus was born in Williamson county. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Sixth Tennessee Infantry, Manny's Brigade, Cheatham's Division, Polk's command, and was captured at Point Rock, Alabama. He was paroled two months and then exchanged and again entered the service, joining the Nineteenth Tennessee Cavalry, under Colonel J. M. Newsom. He was active in the battles of Guntown. Harrisburg, Murfreesboro, Perryville, Kentucky, Pulaski and many others, and surrendered at Gainesville, Alabama, on the 18th of May, 1865. Both father and mother are now deceased

William Lee Bumpus received his education in the public schools of Madison county and subsequently enrolled in the Alamo College. When twenty-one years of age he ran for constable of the fourteenth district of Madison county and was elected for one term. After the expiration of his term of service in that office he came to Jackson and worked under his father as tax assessor for four years. He was then elected constable in Jackson district, serving in that capacity three terms, and in 1906 he was elected tax assessor of the fifteenth district at Jackson and four years later was elected tax assessor of Madison county, which office he is still holding. He has served in this office for twelve years. He has achieved distinction as a public official and no man is more highly esteemed in this county for his integrity and sterling worth. In connection with his duties as a public official Mr. Bumpus is active in the conduct of a fire and general insurance business, which he established twenty years ago. He likewise owns and operates a fine farm just outside of the corporate limits of Jackson. He also owns and rents six houses and lots in Jackson and four just outside of the corporate limits. In Madison county on the 11th of February, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bumpus to Miss Annie M. Boon, a daughter of Sion W. and Mary Lou (Pyles) Boon, and a sister of John Willis Boon, whose sketch may be found elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Bumpus four children have been born: Sydney Mary; Rodger Lee, a veteran of the World war; Robert Potter; and Louise Elizabeth. Mr. Bumpus has always been a strict adherent to the principles of the democratic [p.438] party. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, to the support of which he is a generous contributor. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Bumpus' public spirit has been a stimulus and inspiration. He has been a dominant factor in the upbuilding of the community and he is readily conceded to be one of Jackson's favorite citizens.

Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769–1923: Volume 3