Tuscola-Oakland-Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Rone, Richard 1822 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 16, 2007, 11:40 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

RICHARD RONE. The recollections of this gentleman extend back to the pioneer
days of this State, when the country was sparsely settled and the primeval
condition of the soil almost unchanged. The gradual development he has witnessed
and contributed to, and now in his old age he is enjoying the comforts for which
he toiled in his youth. As a patriotic citizen who offered his services to his
country in the hour of her need, he receives the gratitude of all who love the
stars and stripes, and although he is almost incapacitated for active labor
through a gun-shot wound received in the left hand at Rienzi, Miss., he does not
regret that he put forth every exertion to preserve the Union.

  In Livonia, Livingston County, N. Y., Mr. Rone was born, September 2, 1822.
His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Perine) Rone, natives respectively of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In the Empire State our subject spent his boyhood,
attending the district school in the winter season, and during the summer aiding
in the work on the farm. In the fall of 1837 he accompanied his mother and the
other eight children of the family to Genessee County, Mich., where Samuel Rone
had entered land in 1836. The following year (1837) he built a house on his
place, with the intention of moving his family here by way of Canada, by private
conveyance, but was prevented by the excitement caused by the Patriot War in
Canada. When the wife and children reached the new settlement they found that
but little had been done and every member of the family aided so far as possible
in clearing the land and establishing a home.

  In the work of clearing the land of its timber and forest growth our subject
was a great help to his father, whom he assisted until he was twenty-one years
old. He then entered the employ of a farmer, with whom he remained three years,
at a salary at $10 per month during the summer and $8 a month in the winter.
Later he returned to the old homestead and worked for his father three years, in
connection with his brother. In the meantime he was married, September 2, 1847,
to Miss Mary L. Hurd, who was born in Alleghany County, N. Y., October 28, 1821.
This estimable lady was an active co-laborer with her husband, and to her not a
little of his success may justly be attributed. Two children came to brighten
their home for a few years until removed hence by death. The elder, Lyman
Robert, an intelligent child of five years, lost his life by an accident, a rail
falling on him and killing him instantly. The younger, Sara A., died very
suddenly, being taken ill at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and dying five hours later.

  For about two years after his marriage Mr. Rone remained on the old homestead,
of which he inherited eighty acres, through his father's death in New York
State. On September 2, 1861, our subject enlisted in Company I, Third Michigan
Cavalry, for three years' service in the Civil War. With his regiment he went
into camp at Camp Benton, Mo., near St. Louis, remaining there all through the
winter and thence going down the river to Commerce. From there they marched
overland to New Madrid, participating in the battle at that place. Obedient to
orders to hasten to the field of action at Shiloh, the regiment marched there
hurriedly, but failed to reach the battlefield in time to aid the Northern
forces. At the siege of Corinth, July 9, 1862, our subject was present and did
valiant service in behalf of the Union. As above stated, he received a gun-shot
in his left hand at Rienzi, Miss., while on picket duty, and has lost the use of
that hand entirely, the index and middle finger being extended, and the third
and little finger being drawn to the palm of the hand.

  Mr. Rone remained with his company until October, 1862, when he went to the
general hospital at Corinth, and was thence in a few days dispatched to Keokuk,
Iowa, remaining in a hospital there one month. He was honorably discharged
December 4, 1862, and returned at once to his family in Genesee County. On
February 27, 1865, he again enlisted in Company I, Twenty-fourth Michigan
Infantry, and was on garrison duty in Springfield, Ill., where he was mustered
out of service, July 6, 1865. Once more returning to the pursuits of peace, he
removed with his family to Pine Run, in which village he served as Constable
five years, and as Highway Commissioner nine years. In 1871 he removed to
Groveland, Oakland County, where he sojourned two years, and then came to
Tuscola County. Two years later we find him a resident of Groveland, where he
remained until 1881, going thence to Caro, where he has since made his home. He
receives a pension of $30 per month, in partial compensation for his services in
behalf of the Union, and has invested his money in town property. He was greatly
bereaved by the death of his wife, February 12, 1891, after a long illness,
covering a period of ten years. Her suffering was patiently borne until death
brought release from pain.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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