Settled by people from Tennessee under an 1822 contract held by Sterling Clack Robertson (1785-1842), who later signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, the colony and county were named for him. The county was created Dec. 14, 1837, and organized in March 1838. Its county seats were Old Franklin from 1838 to 1850, Wheelock from 1850 to 1855, Owensville from 1855 to 1869, Calvert from 1870 to 1879, and Franklin since 1879. During the Civil War, it sent 5 troop companies into Confederate service, established a mill to make flour, cotton and wool cloth, and furnished cotton cards, medicines, flour, bacon, and salt to soldiers families.