From The Richmond Times Dispatch (April 30, 1905)
In answer to a query for data on the Bumpass family of Louisa county, the following is gathered from the laspse of time:
Many years before the short stretch of sixty miles of the first Virginia Central Railroad was built from Hanover Junction to Gordonsville, there lived where now stands “Bumpass Station,” a thrifty, sturdy old Englishman, named J.T. Bumpass, who occupied the farm as settled by his forefathers several generations before. It is not known whether they descended from English nobility, or had brought over with them a long pedigree from the Heralds College, with a dazzling coat of arms. It is presumed not, for they were simple, plain, honest folks, only intent on raising corn, wheat and tobacco.
When the surveyors were running the line for railroad through Louisa county, and had reached the farm of Mr. Bumpass, the old gentlemen vowed that the road should not go through his land, for said he, “the cars will run over and kill all my stock; the smoke of the engine will ruin all my crops; the noise of the whistle will run everybody crazy with fear and keep them from sleeping. No sir; we cannot live if the blamed thing runs through here.”
But his neighbors, Mr. Frederick Harris, the first president of the road and Colonel Fontaine, argued with the old gentleman, showing its advantages taking his crops to market, or in taking his family to Richmond in a few hours, and he could sell all his old field pine for a good price, for the engines to burn, and as an extra inducement, if he would give the right of way, they would establish a depot on his farm and name it in his honor, “Bumpass.” Well, that tickled the vanity of the old gentleman so much that he consented. The road was then soon built, and “Bumpass’ Depot” duely established, which has remained since, except shorn by the Postoffice Department of the word “depot,” and goes simply as “Bumpass.” The old gentleman prospered greatly, being appointed its first agent, and running a small store in connection with it, he lived to bless the advent of the railroad.
He married a Miss Duke, daughter of Dr. Duke, of Louisa, who in 1796 attended the last sickness of the Rev. William Douglas, known as “Parson” Douglas, who lived at “Ducking Hole.” Mr. Bumpass had quite a family of sons and daughters. His eldest son, Mr. C. W. Bumpass, succeeded as agent of the station, and still occupies that honorable position. As to the remaining children and their families, they are not known, but the old homestead is still held by the family, which is more than can be said of most Virginia estates of the present day.
E.C.M.
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
