William F. Upton came to Texas in 1853 and settled near High Hill. In 1861, he organized Texas state troops guarding the frontiers and coastline during the Civil War and served as their lieutenant colonel. As a leading state legislator in 1866 and from 1879 to 1885, he aided Texas's postwar recovery. He also had a store in Schulenburg for many years. A West Texas county created soon after his death honors the name of Col. Upton and his brother, Col. John C. Upton, who was killed as a hero at the second battle of Manassas in 1862.