William Hill Bumpus was born August 26, 1843 in Buckingham County Virginia, the son of Evans and Julia Hill Bumpus. He was a relative of Chief Justice John Marshall. He received his primary education from a private tutor and was a cadet at Virginia Military Institute when he was forced to retire on account of ill health. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, but his health prevented his active practice of medicine   

He moved to Nashville and became connected with the L. & N. Railroad, where he served as freight agent for the old South Nashville depot for over 40 years. He retired as assistant general agent.   

 Dr. Bumpus married Mrs. Mary Susie Duncan Compton of Simpson County, Kentucky, in 1875. She died in November 1922, and in April 1923, he married Mrs. Susan Curtis of Crab Orchard, Kentucky, who survived him.   

 Dr. Bumpus who was one of the incorporators of the Old Masons’ Home, and one of the founders of the Tennessee Home for Masonic Widows’ and Orphans’, was made a Mason in Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1864. He became affiliated with Cumberland Lodge 8 July 15, 1876, when he first moved to Nashville and was Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1891.   

 During his long Masonic career, Bumpus was a member of Nashville Commandery 1 Knights Templar; High Priest of Cumberland Chapter 1 Royal Arch Masons; a member of the Council of the Thrice Illustrious Masters; and a member of Trinity Consistory 2 Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He was elected Grand Master of Masons in Tennessee in 1898.   

 Dr. Bumpus, who devoted half of his lifetime to the Widows’ and Orphans’ Home, died at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 27, 1926 at the age of 83 years. Funeral services were held on Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Tulip Street Methodist Church. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville with graveside services conducted by Cumberland Lodge 8. Honorary pallbearers were the Grand Master and Past Grand Masters of Tennessee.