Robert S. Bone, oldest son of Elihu Bone, was born in Tennessee in 1816, and came with his parents to Illinois in 1824. The trip was made in a covered wagon, and he walked much of the way and drove the cows.

He married Nancy McCoy, of Sangamon County, daughter of David and Mary McCoy.

Robert Bone was a ruling elder from 1856 until his death in 1888. He was a man of staid character and his counsel and advice were sought and followed by men in both church and community circles.

He was much interested in education and gave liberally of his means for the schooling of his children.

His wife was an energetic, progressive woman, very strict in her attendance at church, and never absent except on account of sickness. The members of her family were taught to reverence the House of God and its services.

Of their five children who lived to a mature age, one son, David, was elected to the office of ruling elder at Petersburg, Ill., and another, Frank, to the same office at Ft. Scott Kans.; the youngest son, Robert Edgar Bone, has been a ruling elder in the rock Creek Church thirty years. Another son, Finis E. Bone, served the home church faithfully as deacon many years. The daughter, Mary Ellen, is mentioned elsewhere.

Mrs. Elihu Bone, Mrs. Robert Bone and Mrs. Jacob Schnapp prepared the communion elements for ninety years. In a very early day these were served on a long table around which the communicants gathered. Later they were served in the pew from a plate and cup. At the present day an individual communion set, the gift of Mrs. Henry Colby, is used.

Source for photo is: The Book Committee. Rock Creek Presbyterian Church Christian Heritage 175 years, Menard Co. IL. 1997. This includes a reprint of ROCK CREEK, A Retrospect of One Hundred Years, by Alice Keach Bone, written ca 1922, page 81, 82. It is a history of Rock Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church and it's people