Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Pages 275-276

Joseph W. Bump, farmer, Clyde Township, resident on section 27, was born June 16, 1831, in De Ruyter Township, Madison Co., N. Y. His father and mother, Marcus and Mary A. (Winegar) Bump, were natives respectively of New England and the State of New York, and were both of New England origin. They were farmers and resided after their marriage in Madison County until their death. They were both members of the Friends, a society of Quakers. The father was about 70 years of age when he died, in 1871. The mother died in 1858 and was nearly 60 years of age.

Mr. Bump remained at home until he was 18 years of age, engaged principally in obtaining his education. In 1849 he went to Cayuga County, in his native State, where he entered into an apprenticeship with his uncle, Edward Mitchell, to learn the business of a blacksmith. He remained under his instructions three years, removing meanwhile to Onondaga County in the same State. He pursued his trade in his native State until he was 23 years of age.

In March, 1855, he came, unaccompanied, to Illinois and at once purchased 160 acres of land in Clyde Township. The broad acres of the prairie were still unbroken by the plow and stretched away under the summer sun and the wintry snows in glorious promise, which the energetic, industrious and judicious farmer has brought to realization. He gave little attention to his farm for a few years, but began to prepare for his future success by working at various points at his trade and as a farm laborer.

He was married Dec. 27, 1865, in Fairview, Mercer Co., Pa., whither he went to accomplish that purpose, to Alvira L. Converse. She was born Aug. 4, 1836, in Medina Co., Ohio, and is the daughter of Winthrop and Laura (Wentworth) Converse. Her father was a farmer and was a native of Massachusetts. Her mother was born in Canada. Both parents were of English descent and of New England origin. The former died in Mercer Co., Pa., in August, 1868, and was 66 years of age. After that event the mother went to live with her son in Iowa, and died in September, 1882. She was 81 years of age. Mrs. Bump was five years old when her parents went to Mercer Co., Pa., where she was educated.

The children belonging to the household of Mr. and Mrs. Bump were born as follows: Myron C., Sept. 2, 1866; Winthrop M., March 26, 1869; Marcus S., Nov. 16, 1873. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bump settled on the farm in Clyde Township, which has since been the field of their labors and where they have reared their children. The improvements include a fine residence and good farm buildings, and the place is well stocked with a good grade of Durham cattle. Mrs. Bump is a member of the Baptist Church, of which her father was at one time a minister. Mr. Bump is a believer in the tenets of the Friends, in which he was brought up.

He is a Republican of vigorous views.

In August, 1862, he entered the Union army, laying aside his peace principles in the cause of his country. He enlisted in the 75th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, enrolling in Company C, under Captain Altman, of Morrison. He was with his regiment in the battle of Perrysville, Ky., Sept 8, 1862, and six days later, was engaged in a lively skirmish with the rebels at a point between Lancaster and Danville, Ky. Soon after he contracted camp diarrhoea which was attended with typhoid fever, and was placed on the sick list at Danville, where he was sent to the hospital. He was removed to the hospital at Lexington, Ky., and received honorable discharge from thence in the spring of 1863. He escaped the risks of the battlefields to encounter those of the army hospital.