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Dr. Carl R. Bogardus - Early Austin Historian

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Dr. Carl R. Bogardus - 1906-1992

May 14, 2011
The late Dr. Carl Bogardus, should be given credit and many thanks for caring enough to preserve, and document much of Austin’s early history. Dr. Bogardus was an Austin Physician from 1938-1977, and in 1953 he wrote a book about the early history of Austin. Without his dedication and foresight much of our history would be lost.  

His commitment to the community remains an inspiration and his example demonstrated that preserving our local history is important and worthwhile. 

 

A few years before his death in 1992, Dr. Bogardus donated his collective works of the history of Austin and Scott County, which is nearly 40-years of research to the Scott County Public Library. The Austin Indiana History Website, recognizes that important periods of Austin's history would be nearly forgotten without the works of the late Dr. Carl R. Bogardus. It is truly a humbling experience to go to the Scott County Public Library and see first-hand his commitment and passion.   

 

Bogardus was a native of Warsaw Kentucky, and his love for the banks of the Ohio River is why he returned there after he retired in 1977. Dr. Bogardus passed away at the age of 86 in 1992. 

 

Two years before his death Dr. Bogardus donated his lifelong Ohio River memorabilia collection to Northern Kentucky University. The memorabilia was the nation’s largest Ohio River collection. 

 

Dr. Bogardus was truly respected by the many in Scott County Indiana, and Bogardus Road just two miles east of Austin is named in his honor. 

 

Austin will always be grateful to Dr. Bogardus’ commitment to the community of Austin as a physician and historian.   
 

Dr Bogardus was a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1930.

 

After retiring to Warsaw Kentucky:

 

He researched the historic homes of Warsaw

 

He was a weekly contributor for the Gallatin County News with a popular column of “Glimpses into the Past”
 
 

1964

The Scott County Journal and Chronicle Photo (2/27/1964)

Books by Dr. Carl R. Bogardus

The Centennial History of Austin Indiana (1953) – The early history of Austin.

Pioneer Life in Scott County (1957) – A short tract of pioneer life in Scott County.

The Early History of Scott County, Indiana (1958) – Basic information on how Scott County was formed. 

One Hundred Years at Kyana Farms (1958) – The story of 80 acres of land just east of Austin and the home built there in 1858.

The Scarlet Mask (1960) – The story of the Reno Gang, which was led by Frank Reno of Jackson County, Indiana.  The Reno Gang is responsible for the world’s largest train robbery in 1868, which occurred in Scott County, Indiana just two miles south of Austin. 

The Pigeon Roost Massacre (1962) – The tragic story of an Indian attack on a pioneer settlement in southern Scott County, Indiana in 1812. Shawnee Indians killed 23 people, men, women and children.

 

 

From the notes of Dr. Carl R. Bogardus - About Scott County Indiana

In 1816, when Indiana became a state, what was to be Scott County was still parts of Jackson, Jennings, Jefferson, Clark and Washington counties. The Jennings and Johnson Townships of today were parts of Jennings County.

Four years later, due to various reasons, one being distances to the county seats, the state legislature at Corydon, formed a new county to correct these problems. So Scott County was formed and became a bonafide county February 1, 1820, consisting of three townships, Jennings, Vienna and Lexington. Forty-seven years would pass before in 1867 the number of townships was increased to five. Jennings was divided with Johnson and Vienna was divided with Finley. 

Scott County was named after General Charles Scott  (1739-1813) of Virginia. Scott (Portrait at right) was a hero of the Revolutionary and Indian Wars. He was the fourth Governor of the state of Kentucky (1808-1812).

Source:

Bogardus, Carl R.. (1955). Scott County Public Library, 2011. Scottsburg Indiana. Dr. Bogardus File, handwritten notes.

The Scarlet Mask by Dr. Carl Bogardus

Now available on the Austin Indiana History.Com website the story of the notorious outlaw gang known as the Reno Gang. The Reno gang from Seymour, Indiana was responsible for the 1868 Marshfield Train Robbery which took place just two miles south of Austin at Marshfield, Indiana, which is now a ghost town.

The story “The Scarlet Mask” was written by the late Dr. Carl R. Bogardus in 1960, and is the most detailed factual account of the Reno Gang on the Internet.   The short book entailed over ten-years of research by Dr. Bogardus before he finalized the project, over 50-years ago. 

Please click on the small Frank Reno portrait at left for the 21,000 word tract of “The Scarlet Mask”.