His parents were railroad engineer Herman Haupt and Ann Cecilia Keller.

He continued his undergraduate education at the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University, and finally graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1867.

He worked on lake surveys and as engineer officer for the 5th military district of Texas.

[1] After his Corps service, Haupt worked as a topographic engineer at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In April 1886, Haupt patented an automatic system for improving rivers and harbors, and for maintaining channels by an adjustable deflecting shield, suspended by buoys, floats, or barges.