In the spring of 1823, J.C.N. Robertson came with his family to the Western District of Tennessee. At that time, what is now Hardeman County was still part of Hardin County. The Robertson family settled in this section and helped to establish the new county of Hardeman. In fact, Julius Caesar Nichols Robertson became the first sheriff of Hardeman County in 1823; he served in that role for 15 years between 1823 and 1840 and he also served as the first State Senator in 1835 for the counties of Hardeman, Fayette and Shelby. But our Indian encounter story predates his arrival to West Tennessee.
In 1819, J.C.N. Robertson was appointed government agent of the Cherokee Reservation near Maryville (in East Tennessee). In this capacity, he had to go to Knoxville every three months for money and supplies for the Indians. At first the Indians seemed very friendly, but for some unknown reason they became dissatisfied and suspicious of the government. Once, when Agent Robertson was in Knoxville, the Indians decided to kill his wife and baby William, while they were at home alone, and to kill him when he returned. His wife, Margaret was sitting in her room nursing her baby when twelve Indians in war paint and feathers marched into the room in single file. Her heart stood still, but she rose and said cordially, "Take seats, gentlemen, my husband has not yet returned home, but if you will mind my baby I will get you something to eat". Putting her baby into the arms of the chief brave, she left the room and closed the door. She understood the Indians. She knew that no true Indian was base enough to betray a trust. Even if they had come to murder, they would not harm her baby when she had given him voluntarily into their care. The chief laid the baby into its cradle and they all filed out just as she returned with cider and cake!
Source: W.M. Matthews, The Bolivar Bulletin, August 25, 1944