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The town and county were named after William H. Wharton, a lawyer, member of the Convention of 1832 and Minister to the United States, and his brother John A. Wharton, also a lawyer, soldier, Secretary of War and representative from Brazoria County to the First Congress of the Republic of Texas. The land where the city of Wharton is now located was originally part of a league granted to William Kincheloe and his family in 1824. Located on the east bank of the Colorado River, in what was known as the "Great Prairie Canebrakell of "Bay Prairie", this rich flood plain was covered with a dense stand of 201 tall switch cane through which flowed Caney Creek, originally a bed of the Colorado River. This cane had to be cut down by the first team to survey the town site. Kincheloe donated the land for the courthouse and central square. Land below the square providing access to the river was designated as Kincheloe Common. Under Mexican and Texan laws, water rights remained with the government. Rain collected in cisterns and well water provided the drinking water.
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