The storm over Central Texas struck on December 1, 1913, and lashed out in all directions. It rained fifteen inches in one evening and practically every public building in Robertson County was damaged. This was the second severe storm to visit Franklin, for another in 1899 had been equally severe.

Indeed, a terrible flood did strike Robertson County in 1899. It came in June, when forty-two inches of rain fell in three days, and the commissioners entered the following report in their records:

The court did not convene on the account of heavy rains over the county, measuring 42 inches from Tuesday to Friday. Every bridge in the county was washed out and every road leading to Franklin was impassable, either by buggy or horseback. The highest water ever known was in every creek branch and river. Water was from one to fifteen feet deep over the land, all the railroads were washed away, carrying ties and rails 200 feet from the bed. Many persons were drowned and the damage to farms and crops is unestimable. Houses are washed away and there is no communication with the outside world be cause telephone and telegraph lines are gone. The loss of life and destruction of property cannot be estimated at this time. Tom Taylor, County Judge, June 30, 1899.

When the Christian Church was destroyed in 1913, the congregation joined the Church of Christ. Their place of worship had been on the corner of Bremond and Englewood Streets, and in later years an attractive sanctuary was built there. The old Church of Christ building on Center Street was vacated. The Church of Christ remains today with the combined congregation.

In 1882, the population of Franklin reached 250 residents, and the north side of the square was complete with stores and shops. Merchants and professional men continued to move to the county seat, and homes were built in all areas of the town.

The first doctor in the town was G. M. D. Patterson, who moved his home from Englewood in 1880 and remained through the early years of settlements. Dr. Patterson and Dr. John Thomas operated a drug store and R. M. Duffey was the firm's pharmacist. Other doctors came as the population of the town grew, including J. A. Bedford, J. M. Vance, H. B. Passmore, J. C. Holman, G. M. Abney, and T. J. Curry.

Lawyers are leading citizens of a county seat town, and there were many who visited and worked in the Robertson County courthouse after 1882, and in the following years. Some were distinguished men including district attorneys J. N. Johnson, W. W. James, J. C. Scott, V. B. Hudson, J. M. Rolston, J. F. Lane, and W. C. Davis.

District judges serving the county between 1888 and 1921 included F. M. Adams, C. F. Cohron, Joe Henderson, W. G. Taliferro, J. C. Scott, and John Watson. Fifteen men served the county as county judge after 1886, including C. S. Brigance, G. R. Dunn, O. D. Cannon, Tom Taylor, J. W. Woods, W. C. Perry, J. L. Goodman, W. M. Johnson, Joe Reid, J. Y. McNutt, C. B. Carter, Sam Rogers, Henry A. Bush, A. G. Scott, and G. D. Reagan.

Other attorneys of record included J. H. Sharp, W. O. Campbell, R. W. Priest, C. W. Kinard, J. R. Nalley, Frank A. Woods, W. M. Johnson, Knox Gilmore, Ben L. Parten, Scott Field, W. T. Bartholomew, J. W. McNutt, W. W. Holland, and men licensed to practice law in later years.