BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 514-515.


ROBERT W. BONE, ex-soldier of the republic, and a worthy citizen of Goshen
township, Belmont county, is a son of Benjamin Bone, who was born in
Hampshire county, England, in 1814. In 1830, the latter came to America,
shipping at Portsmouth on a sailing vessel, and making a trip of six weeks
to New York. From there he proceeded to Deersville, Harrison county, Ohio,
and he subsequently learned the shoemaker's trade at Cadiz, where he lived
four years. He then settled at Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson county, and became
foreman of the shop of John Hog. There he was married, in 1837, to Leonora
Evans, whose parents, of Welsh descent, came from Virginia, in 1814.
Benjamin Bone finally went into business with Livermore & Spencer, and at
the end of two years opened a shop of his own, in 1852, and managed the
same until his death, December 1, 1877. There were eleven children in his
family, all of whom are living; except Hannah, deceased, viz.: Sarah A.,
Josephine, Robert W., Pinkney, Benjamin F., Alfred E., Nora, Belle, William
H., Mary. Robert W. learned the trade of his father, but at the breaking
out of the rebellion he entered the Union service, first on the receiving
ship "ClaraDolson," and afterward was on the gun-boat "Tuscumbia," participat-
ing in the running of the batteries at Vicksburg, and battle of Grand Gulf.
In January, 1864, he re-enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio
volunteer infantry, one of the finest regiments the state sent out, and
took part in the battles of Buzzard Roost, or Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca,
Dallas, New Hope Church, Atlanta, Eutaw Creek. He was then in the Hood
campaign, at the battles of Columbia, five days' continual fighting,
Franklin and Nashville, and then followed Hood to the Tennessee river, took
a boat and came to Cincinnati, whence he went to Alexandria, and by ship to
Fort Fisher, where he participated in the capture of Fort Anderson, after
which he was in the battle of Old Town Creek, and at Wilmington, where his
division captured an entire brigade of confederates. He then joined in the
movement for the relief of Gen Cox, at Rinston, and then at Goldsborough
united with Gen. Sherman, whence they proceeded to Raleigh, and from there
the One Hundred and Fourth regiment moved to Greensborough, and was at
Johnston's surrender. He was then transferred as mail messenger to the
One Hundred and Eighty-third regiment. On July 17, 1865, he was mustered
out at Salisbury, N. C., and discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, after which
he returned to Mt. Pleasant and worked at his trade eleven months. In
July, 1866, he enlisted in the regular army, and served twenty-five months.
In 1867 he had command of a squad of men who went to Texas and brought the
remains of Gen. Griffin, and Lieut. Griffin, his son, and Col. Taylor, who
died of yellow fever, to New York. In August, 1868, he was discharged for 
disability and came to Belmont county, where he has since resided. He was
married, in 1871, to Huldah Dunn, by whom he has five children: Mary L.,
Nettie M., Frank L., Harry L. and Clara. Mr. Bone is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, of the Masonic order, and of Robert Hilles,
G. A. R., post No. 220, at Barnesville.