Col. William F. Upton

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, friends, so let me give you the story straight. We're talking about Colonel William F. Upton, a man whose life reads like a chapter out of the bigger book of Texas itself.

Born in 1832, he made his way to Texas in 1853 and put down roots near High Hill, in Fayette County. That was the beginning of a long and consequential run in this state. Then 1861 came along, and with it, the Civil War.

Upton organized a regiment of Texas state troops and served as their Lieutenant Colonel, his men guarding both the frontiers and the coastline. While other battles raged far to the east, somebody had to hold the edges of Texas together, and that was the work Upton took on. Now, the war touched his family in a way that no man forgets.

His brother, Colonel John C. Upton, was a hero killed at the second battle of Manassas in 1862. That loss hangs in the background of everything that comes after.

William pressed on. By 1866 he was a leading state legislator, and he came back to that work again from 1879 to 1885, putting his shoulder to the wheel of post-war recovery in Texas. In between all that public service, he was also a practical man.

He ran a store in Schulenburg for many years, because a man still has to keep the lights on, even a colonel and a lawmaker. William F. Upton died in 1887.

And here is where the story takes a turn that tends to stop people cold. Not long after he died, a West Texas county was created, and it was named to honor both William and his fallen brother John. One county, two colonels, one family that gave Texas just about everything it had.

The name Upton is on the map, and now you know exactly why it's there.

What the marker says

(1832 - 1887) Coming to Texas in 1853, W. F. Upton settled near High Hill. He organized (1861) and was Lieutenant Colonel of Texas state troops guarding frontiers and coastline during the Civil War. A leading state legislator in 1866 and 1879-85, he aided post-war recovery in Texas. Had a store in Schulenburg many years. A West Texas County, created soon after he died, honors name of Col. Upton and a brother, Col. John C. Upton, a hero killed at second battle of Manassas in 1862. Recorded-1976