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			HARLEY AND CATHERINE (RICHARDS) BUMP

	Harley Bump was born in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Jan. 15, 1815.  His parents, 
Humphrey and Phoebe (Baker) Bump, were also born in Saratoga County, from whence they, in 1819,
moved to Cayuga County, and finally to Genessee County, where they resided until the death of Mr.
Bump. Sr., in 1846.  Mrs. Bump died in Hillsdale about 1870.  Harley grew to manhood in Cayuga
and Ontario Counties, receiving only a common-school education.  He was early taught to work, as 
were all farmers' boys of that day.  Arrived at his majority, he commenced life on his own by
working his father's farm on shares.  On the 7th day of March, 1837, he was married to  Miss 
Catherine Richards, who was born in Windham, Greene Co., N. Y., July 8, 1819.  She was the 
daughter of Uriah and Esther (Keeler) Richards.  They were Connecticut people, whence they 
immigrated to Greene County.  Mr. Richards came to Michigan to visit friends, and while visiting 
around very mysteriously disappeared, and thought diligent search was made for him, he was never 
found.  The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Bump has been made happy by the following children:  
Almeda, born May 14, 1838, died January, 1878; Henry, Jan. 7, 1840 (he was drafted into the army 
and assigned to the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, and while on his way to his regiment was taken 
sick and died); Rachel, Sept. 6, 1841; Caroline, Feb. 16, 1845; and Martha E., June 3, 1851.
	After his marriage Mr. Bump worked land on shares for six years, by which means he got a 
small start, with which the family came to Michigan, in October 1843, and in the town of 
Wheatland, Hillsdale Co., bought seventy acres of land.  It was nearly new, its only buildings 
being a log house with the old-fashioned fireplace and stick chimney.  They remained on the
Wheatland farm eleven years, clearing up forty acres of it and building a good house and barn and
raising a fine orchard.  Wishing to get more land, they in 1854 sold out for two thousand dollars
and again turned their faces towards a new home, this time settling on section 19 in the town of 
Bloomer, Montcalm Co.  There were then but a few inhabitants in the township, and the country 
then was very new.  Mr. Bump bought two hundred acres of land, of which ten acres had been c
hopped off.  The roads to the farm had only been underbrushed, and to them it was again going
into the wilderness.  But they were equal to the demands of the time, and a few years again saw 
them with a comfortable home, the work of their own hands, and on which surrounded by the 
comforts assured them by more than a competency, they are passing away the eventime of life 
respected and esteemed by all who know them.  In politics Mr. Bump is a Republican.  He has been 
a justice of the peace one term, also highway commissioner one term.  He helped organize the 
first school in his part of the town.  The first class-meeting was organized in his house, as was
the first meeting, services being held there over a year.  They were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church twenty-four years.  Mrs. Bump is now a member of the Church of the United 
Brethren.     



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 426.  Bloomer.