menu Translate Phone: 979-828-3299 Texas History of Sheriff's Office Robertson County was created on December 14, 1837 from Milam County and was named for Sterling Clack Robertson, early Texas colonist. The county was organized in March 1838 with old Franklin as the county seat until 1850. Wheelock became the county seat in 1850-1855; Owensville from 1855-1869; Calvert from 1870-1879 and Morgan in 1879. Morgan was later re-named to Franklin and remains the county seat today. There have been thirty-seven men who have served during the history of the county with two of them serving three times and one twice. John D. Smith was elected the first sheriff. The State Election Register shows him in 1836 but no other dates are given until he was re-elected February 3, 1840. He may have been a sheriff in the Milam Territory prior to becoming the sheriff but this is strictly conjecture. He served until February 22, 1842. Eli Smith was elected on February 22, 1842; re-elected February 5, 1844 and served until December 18, 1844 when he resigned. Samuel A. Blain was elected on January 4, 1845 and served until August 7, 1848. Wesley C. Webb was elected on August 7, 1848 and served until sometime in 1850. There is nothing that shows Webb to be out of the office except the return of the Chief Justice dated March 15, 1850. This reads that “McCanless was elected to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of William H. Wilson, whose name does not appear on the register.” The following three names are strictly conjecture based on the notes in the State Election Register as there is nothing else to show they were appointed or elected. William H. Wilson was appointed in early 1850 and served until March 1850 when he resigned. James M. McCanless was elected on March 4, 1850 and served until some time in 1851. William R. Arnet was appointed in 1851 and served until September 1851 when he resigned. Adam J. Street was elected on September 6, 1851 and served until August 2, 1852. There is a note that reads “he was elected to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of William R. Arnet whose name does not appear on the register.” William H. Wheelock was elected on August 2, 1852 and served until August 7, 1854. Mark L. Clay was elected on August 7, 1854; re-elected August 4, 1856 and served until August 2, 1858. Alex Calvert was elected on August 2, 1858 and served until August 6, 1860. John W. Maris was elected on August 6, 1860; re-elected August 4, 1862 and served unitl August 1, 1864. William H. Wheelock was elected a second time on August 1, 1864; appointed August 23, 1865 by Governor A.J. Hamilton and served until June 25, 1866. James M. Brown was elected in early 1850 and served until March 1850 when he resigned. Robert Porter was appointed on October 19, 1868 by General J.J. Reynolds’ Special Order #61 and served until August 26, 1869 when he was removed by General J.J. Reynolds’ Special Order #201. John E. V. Nussey was appointed on August 26, 1869 by General J.J. Reynolds’ Special Order #201 and served until January 31, 1870 even though he failed to qualify. John R. Harlan was elected on December 3, 1869 and served until May 1870 when he died. His commission was returned May 19, 1870. F. M. Hall was appointed on January 31, 1870 by General J.J. Reynolds’ Special Order #23; was appointed August 15, 1870; elected November 8, 1872 and served until December 2, 1873. This is one of the times when it becomes very confusing. The “Reconstruction” government had put a man in office (Nussey) and the people had apparently elected someone else (Harlan). General Reynolds appointed someone else (hall) to serve after Nussey failed to qualify. Then Harlan died while in office and Hall was re-appointed. An in-depth study of the county records may shed more light on this. Phil E. Peers was elected on December2, 1873 and served until February 15, 1876. Jack W. Jones was elected on February 15, 1876; re-elected November 5, 1878 and served until November 2, 1880. W. O. Wyser Elected on November 2, 1880 Served until November 7, 1882 Jack W. Jones was elected a second time on November 7, 1882 and served until November 4, 1884. T. B. Jones was elected on November 4, 1884; re-elected November 2, 1886 and served until November 6, 1888. Lem Barton was elected on November 6, 1888 and served until July 19, 1890 when he was suspended by the District Judge. There are no reasons given in the State Election Register for the suspension. H. P. Kellog was appointed on July 19, 1890; elected November 4, 1890 and served until November 8, 1892. T. B. Jones was elected a second time on November 8, 1892 and served until November 6, 1894. J. C. Renfro Elected on November 6, 1894 Served until November 6, 1896 T. B. Jones was elected a third time on November 6, 1896 and served until November 8, 1898. Guy Townsend Elected on November 8, 1898 Re-elected November 6, 1900 Served until November 4, 1902 Will F. Rushing Elected November 4, 1902 Re-elected November 8, 1904, November 6, 1906, November 3, 1908 November 8, 1910, November 6, 1912, November 3, 1914 Served until November 7, 1916. George W. Davlin Elected on November 7, 1916 Re-elected November 5, 1918 Served until November 2, 1920 Will E. Thompson Elected on November 2, 1920 Re-elected November 7, 1922 Served until January 1, 1925 W. W. Sandifer Elected on November 4, 1924 Re-elected November 2, 1926 Served until January 1, 1929 Virgil Claude Box Elected on November 6, 1928 Served until January 1, 1933 W. A. Nickelson was elected on November 8, 1932; re-elected November 6, 1934 and served until December 1935 when he died. H. P. Hill was appointed on December 10, 1935 and served until January 1, 1937. Robert “Bob” Reeves Elected on November 3, 1936 Re-elected November 8, 1938, November 5, 1940, November 3, 1942 November 7, 1944, November 5, 1946, November 2, 1948 Served until January 1, 1951. Howard Arthur Stegall Elected on November 7, 1950 Re-elected November 4, 1952, November 2, 1954, November 6, 1956, November 8, 1960 Served until January 1, 1965. Sheriff Stegall died in November 1982 at Hearne Hospital. His wife’s name is Louise. E. P. “Sonny” Elliott Elected on November 3, 1964 Re-elected November 5, 1968, November 7, 1972, November 2, 1976, November 4, 1980 Served until March 24, 1983 when he died. Lee Scott Hurley Was appointed on March 28, 1983 Elected on November 6, 1984 Re-elected November 8, 1988, November 2, 1992 Served until December 31, 1996. Sheriff Hurley was born October 3, 1930 and died December 10, 2007. Gerald T. Yezak was elected on November 5, 1996; re-elected November 7, 2000, November 3, 2004, November 4, 2008, November 6, 2012 and is currently serving as sheriff. Sheriff Yezak was elected the Sergeant-At-Arms for the Sheriff’s Association of Texas in 2014 and is slated to become President of the association in 2018. CRIME TIP HOTLINE 800-299-0191 OR SUBMIT VIA EMAIL Home Email Facebook Inmate Roster Map Message from the Sheriff Most Wanted Press Releases Sex Offenders Sign Up For Alerts Contact Us EMERGENCY 911 Phone: 979-828-3299 (24 hours) • Email 1006 W US Hwy 79, PO Box 1109, Franklin, TX 77856 Administrative Office Hours: M-F 8:00am - 5:00pm Robertson County Sheriff's Office | ©2018 - 2021 Robertson County, Texas Site Map | Accessibility