Nelson Marks Bump (1891–1962) came from a prominent Binghamton, NY family. Despite a terrible youthful accident that cost him one of his legs, he volunteered during WW1 to join the American Red Cross (ARC). In May 1918, Nelson was sent  to London as a transportation coordinator at ARC Headquarters. While stationed there, Nelson purchased his sterling silver "Cyma London" oval watch, and had it engraved “Nelson Marks Bump / American Red Cross / USA”. He was released from the Red Cross in December 1918, and returned to Binghamton. However, Lt. Bump returned shortly thereafter to England, as the Army's Director of Motor Transportation in Liverpool through the Spring of 1919. 

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After the war, he had a distinguished career as a public servant in Binghamton, ranging from the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works to the Broome County Parks Commissioner.  Nelson was a pioneering conservationist, serving as Chairman of the New York State Forest Conference, secretary of the New York State Conservation Council, and one of the founding members of the National Wildlife Federation. He also served in the Roosevelt administration as a regional director for the Resettlement Administration (responsible for Mid-Atlantic land conservation projects.)

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In 1938 (at age 47), he married Roselle Montgomery (1906-1975); they had one son, John Nelson Bump (1939-2000) and three daughters (Gale, Roselle, and Judith). 

 

Nelson died in 1962 at age 71, and is buried in his home town of Binghamton, NY.