Davy Crockett was an American folk hero, frontiersman and politician who was nicknamed the "King of the Wild Frontier." He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives and was killed at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. Crockett had a large family including a son named John Wesley. John was born in Tennessee and would eventually follow his father into politics. It was to John and his wife Martha that the child who is the topic of this story was born.

When the Civil War broke out, he organized the Crockett Rifles which became Company H of the 1st Arkansas Infantry. This regiment was ordered to Virginia where much attention was given to the grandson of the famous Davy Crockett. Their stay was not long in Virginia though and soon the regiment was reorganized and ordered back west. Robert H. Crockett now found himself without a regiment and returned home.

Robert H. Crockett joined a new company being organized in Arkansas County as a private on February 24, 1862. He was not to remain that rank long though. This unit became Company E of the 18th Arkansas Infantry and Crockett was soon elected major. Crockett and the other men of the 18th moved to Corinth, Mississippi where they first saw action. At the Battle of Corinth on October 4th, the regiment suffered heavy casualties including their colonel. Major Crockett was appointed colonel on the same day and took command. The 18th was transferred to the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana and became part of the garrison at Port Hudson. Because of casualties and sickness though, the regiment was consolidated. Colonel Crockett was granted a leave of absence on April 8 and returned to Arkansas. This was fortunate since the siege at Port Hudson began in May and would end with the surrender of the Confederate garrison in July. Although the 18th returned to Arkansas and reorganized as mounted infantry, there is no evidence Crocket rejoined them.

When the war ended, Robert returned home to Arkansas County and began his law practice. He also served as an Arkansas State Senator from 1885 to 1888. Because of who his grandfather was though, Robert was constantly asked to speak at events and became well known throughout his adopted state. During the 1890s, he served as chief of the Davy Crockett Clan, which was a group made up of relatives of the famous Alamo hero. Although he traveled a great deal after retirement, he was always happy to be back in Arkansas. Toward the end of his life, Crockett said this about the state he so loved. "My life, I have always enjoyed, but the years I have spent in the woods of Arkansas clad in a buckskin suit with a rifle for a companion were my happiest."