July 10, 2025 • 15 mins
Ever wonder what happens when a con man's legacy becomes a cornerstone of state history? The story of this Texas town unravels like a frontier thriller – complete with embezzlement, assumed identities, and a silver-tongued fugitive who changed the course of Texas settlement.
Meet Philip Hendrik Nering Bögel, a Dutch tax collector who fled Europe after stealing 250,000 guilders in 1793.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Bob Bales (00:00):
Hi and welcome to the Traveling Fool, the podcast
where we discuss travel, cultureand history.
I'm your host, Bob Bales, andtoday we are talking about the
Texas town named after a con man.
So stay tuned and we take ajourney into the heart of
(00:39):
history, where truth issometimes stranger than fiction.
I'm Bob Bales, and today we areheaded to a Texas town along the
Colorado River, where red brickstreets and pine forests hide a
story most folks just don'tknow about.
Now, this isn't just any town.
It's a town named after a manwho called himself a Baron, a
(01:03):
figure whose silver tongue andshady past shaped the Lone Star
State.
Stick with me as we unravel thetale of a con man whose legacy
is etched in the Texas soil, andyou'll discover a place worth
visiting.
This story's got a twistthat'll leave you stunned, so
let's dive right inThis story starts in 1759 in
(01:28):
Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana, acolonial port on South America's
wild coast now called Suriname.
A boy named Philip HendrickNering Bogle is born to a lawyer
and his wife, a family ofmodest means but big dreams.
At five, the family moved tothe Netherlands, settling in the
(01:52):
bustling town of Leeuwarden.
A young Philip grows up andmarries this gal named Georgine
Wolffeline At age 23, and heraises five children by his 30s.
He's a tax collector, steady,respectable kind of guy.
You know, the kind of guy youtrust with your money.
(02:14):
But in 1793, the wheels comeoff.
Phillips, accused of embezzling250,000 guilders, a fortune
worth millions today, with a1,000 ducat bounty on his head,
he vanishes, leaving his oldlife in ruins.
(02:36):
Now here's where the story getswild.
In Hamburg, Germany, hereinvents himself, shedding his
name like a worn-out coat.
He emerges as Felipe EnriqueNeri and he calls himself a
Baron, a self-styled Dutchnobleman fleeing the French
(02:57):
invasion of Holland.
It's a bold-faced lie, but heplays it like a master.
By 1795, he's in Spanish,Louisiana, sweet-talking
Governor Francisco Luis Hectorde Corondelet, with tales of
aristocracy and grand plans.
The governor, charmed, grantshim 12 square leagues, which is
(03:23):
over 620,000 acres in theOuachita Valley, to settle 500
families.
Felipe promises each family 400acres, tools and a fresh start.
99 families show up, butSpain's funds dry up and the
project collapses.
(03:44):
The land titles he issued sparklawsuits and drag wrong for
decades a tangle of brokenpromises.
The Louisiana Gazette latercalled it a venture, as
ambitious as it was doomed.
But unfazed, our so-called conman Baron sets his sights on
(04:04):
Spanish Texas.
By 1806, he's in San Antoniorunning a freighting business
and cozying up the localofficials.
He becomes second alcalde,which is a deputy mayor, playing
the part of a loyal Spaniardwhile hiding his fugitive past.
His military-like cunningshines in 1820 when he meets
(04:26):
Moses Austin, a Missourientrepreneur with a bold idea.
Moses wants to bring 300Anglo-American families to Texas
.
Now Governor Antonio MariaMartinez shuts it down, says
Anglos are trouble.
But Felipe, with his knack forstrategy, steps in.
He argues that the settlerscould fortify Texas against
(04:47):
Comanche raids and boost theeconomy, a pitch that would
resonate with any soldierplanning a defense.
So Martinez relents and thedeal is sealed.
Tragically, Moses Austin dies in1821, but Felipe keeps the
dream alive.
He guides Moses' son, Stephen FAustin, through the same
(05:09):
negotiations, securing the grantfor the Old 300, Texas' first
major Anglo-American colony.
They call it the Old 300because they were the 300
settlers that came to Texas andsettled it.
As commissioner Felipe maps outland along the Brazos River,
ensuring that settlers get theirplots, he later serves as a
(05:31):
legislator in Saltillo, pushingthe 1825 Colonization Act that
opens Texas to more immigrantsand establishes a port at
Galveston.
Now his influence is undeniable.
But when he dies in 1827, he'spenniless, buried in a modest
grave in Saltillo, his funeralpaid for by colleagues.
(05:53):
The Texas Gazette noted hispassing with a single line "a
man of vision left with nothingbut his name.
Now let's jump to 1832.
There's a rugged settlementalong the Colorado River, just
east of what is now Austin,texas.
This is one of Stephen FAustin's earliest colonies.
(06:15):
It's a place of log cabins,muddy trails and constant
vigilance.
Settlers built a fort to fendoff Comanche raids, their
muskets always at the ready, ascene any military man would
recognize, with sentries postedand defenses planned.
(06:37):
By 1837, as Texas wins itsindependence from Mexico, these
pioneers decide to rename theirsettlement and they chose to
honor a man who helped maketheir new home possible, the man
who convinced Spanish officialsto let Anglo settlers in.
So why honor this so-calledBaron?
Well, the settlers may not haveknown the full story, you know
(06:58):
about his embezzlement and hisfake title.
Or maybe they did and theyadmired his grit.
Texas, after all, was a land ofreinvention where outcasts and
dreamers staked their claims.
(07:18):
A local paper in 1837, theAustin American, praised the
renaming as a tribute to a manwho bridged empires, never
hinting at his shady past.
His name was carved into thetown, a county, and even
monuments, one at the courthouseand another at a nearby state
park.
This con man's legacy became acornerstone of Texas history,
and here's where the story turns.
The man they named his town forwasn't a Baron at all.
(07:41):
He was Philippe Hendrick NeringBogle, a fugitive tax collector
who spun a tale so audacious itchanged the state.
Without his deception, theAustin colony might have
faltered and Texas' Anglosettlement could have taken a
different path.
A con man, yeah, but a con manwho built a future.
(08:05):
And the town that bears his name, well, it is named after Felipe
Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop.
That's right, it's Bastrop,Texas, a place where history and
charm collide, waiting for youto explore.
And now that you know thetown's name, let's talk about
(08:26):
why Bastrop Texas is worth avisit.
Now, I've been through theremany times because I live in
Houston and I go to San Antonioand Austin and it's kind of
right in between.
So I go through Bastrop a lot.
And with a population of about10,000, it's a town nestled in
the Lost Pines, where theColorado River winds through a
(08:46):
forest that feels like it cameout of East Texas and got stuck.
Bastrop's brick-lined streetsand historic sites make it a
perfect stop for anyone chasingthe stories behind the places we
love.
You can kick off your Bastropadventure at the Bastrop County
Historical Museum on Main Street.
It's a treasure trove of theBaron's story, with exhibits on
(09:09):
his role in the Austin Colony,alongside settler artifacts like
1830s rifles and Comanchearrowheads and Texas Revolution
letters.
Military history buffs love thereplica of the 1832 fort where
settlers stood guard againstraids, a nod to the strategic
grid of, you know, the frontierlife in Texas at that time.
(09:31):
The museum's open Wednesdaythrough Sunday and admissions
just a couple of dollars.
You can checkbastrophistorymuseum.
org for hours.
You can head over to the Baronde Bastrop Monument on the
courthouse grounds.
It's a stone marker honoringour illustrious con band.
(09:55):
There's another one in BastropState Park, which is a 6,600
acre haven of pine trees whichare really unique for being 100
miles west of the Texas mainpine belt.
You can hike 8.5 mile LostPines Trail.
You can spot deer andarmadillos and other critters.
Or you can stay in a 1930sCivilian Conservation Corps
(10:19):
built cabin for a little bit ofhistory and you can book that
and I'm going to give you thiswebsite.
It's called tpwdtexas.
gov, which is Texas Parks andWildlife.
The park's a reminder of theland the barren settlers fought
to claim.
(10:40):
Downtown Bastrop downtown iskind of like a time capsule.
Main Street's 1880s buildingshouse gems like Lock Drug, a
pharmacy that's turned, fountainfountains serving cherry
phosphate straight out of 1896.
You can browse the Lost PinesArt Center for local art, or you
can rent a kayak from BastropRiver Company to paddle the
(11:02):
Colorado River where earlysettlers fished and traded you
hungry.
Maxine's Cafe dishes up chickenfried steak.
That's just pure comfort, man.
And they've got the bestbreakfast in town.
602 Brewing Company pours LostPines lager.
That hits the spot on a hotsummer day, man, and for a
(11:24):
luxurious stay.
The Hyatt Regency Lost PinesResort and Spa offers riverfront
views and a spa which isperfect for unwinding
.
if you like history, don't skipthe 1832 Bastrop County
Courthouse.
It's a Greek revival stunnerman.
Texas is known for itscourthouses in these small
(11:47):
counties.
They're just architecturalwonders, and Bastrop is no
different than the rest of them.
This Greek revival courthouseis just gorgeous.
Its archives hold Austin Colonyrecords and maybe even a trace
of the Barron's deals.
The old Bastrop County Jail isnow a museum and it shows off
(12:08):
iron sails and tales of frontierjustice.
Kind of creepy but it'sfascinating.
Z L PBastrop's events bring the past
to life.
In December, the Lost PinesChristmas Festival lights up
downtown with parades andcarolers victorian charms and
military history Baron's loversYou can mark your calendars for
the annual Heroes and Hot RodsVeterans Weekend Car Show.
(12:31):
It's held around Veterans Dayevery year and they have other
festivals throughout the yearthat you can check out.
Just go to the Bastrop Countywebsite or the Bastrop City
website and look up theirfestivals.
You can grab a bicycle and headto the riverfront County
website or the Bastrop Citywebsite and look up their
festivals.
You can grab a bicycle and headto the riverfront soaking in
the pines and history.
And for thrills I don't do thisanymore, but you can go
(12:51):
ziplining through zip-lost pines, zipline over the forest where
settlers once stood watch.
So why visit this town?
Well Baron it's where historybreathes.
It's in the streets, the riversand the pines.
Man.
You can walk where the barrensettlers built their dreams, eat
where modern Texans gather andfeel a story that's equal parts
(13:12):
deception and triumph.
It's a place that honors a conman, not for his lies, but for
the legacy he forged.
visitbastrop.
(14:18):
thetravelingfool.
(15:15):
.
So let's get back to our barrenFelipe Enrique Neri.
He wasn't a nobleman, he was afugitive, but he was also a
dreamer and a schemer who spun atale so grand that it reshaped
Texas.
His name on Bastrop's map is anod to second chances, to the
audacity of a man who turnedfiction into fact.
So pack your bags and head overto Bastrop, texas.
Visit the museum, paddle theriver, stand by the Barron's
Monument and ask yourself was hea hero or a hustler?
Well, the answer is waiting inthe pines of the town named
after a con man.
So thanks for joining me today.
Go to visitbastropcom and youcan plan your trip, or stop by
the Bastrop Visitor Center.
It's on Main Street.
You can get maps and tips onwhere to go and what to do and
see.
If you've got a story about adestination you'd like covered,
well, send me an email at theeditor at thetravelingfoolcom
and I might just feature it nexttime.
Editor at thetravelingfoolcom.
And I might just feature itnext time.
I'm Bob Bales, and until nexttime, safe travels, thank you.
Hi and welcome to the Traveling Fool, the podcast
where we discuss travel, cultureand history.
I'm your host, Bob Bales, andtoday we are talking about the
Texas town named after a con man.
So stay tuned and we take ajourney into the heart of
(00:39):
history, where truth issometimes stranger than fiction.
I'm Bob Bales, and today we areheaded to a Texas town along the
Colorado River, where red brickstreets and pine forests hide a
story most folks just don'tknow about.
Now, this isn't just any town.
It's a town named after a manwho called himself a Baron, a
(01:03):
figure whose silver tongue andshady past shaped the Lone Star
State.
Stick with me as we unravel thetale of a con man whose legacy
is etched in the Texas soil, andyou'll discover a place worth
visiting.
This story's got a twistthat'll leave you stunned, so
let's dive right inThis story starts in 1759 in
(01:28):
Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana, acolonial port on South America's
wild coast now called Suriname.
A boy named Philip HendrickNering Bogle is born to a lawyer
and his wife, a family ofmodest means but big dreams.
At five, the family moved tothe Netherlands, settling in the
(01:52):
bustling town of Leeuwarden.
A young Philip grows up andmarries this gal named Georgine
Wolffeline At age 23, and heraises five children by his 30s.
He's a tax collector, steady,respectable kind of guy.
You know, the kind of guy youtrust with your money.
(02:14):
But in 1793, the wheels comeoff.
Phillips, accused of embezzling250,000 guilders, a fortune
worth millions today, with a1,000 ducat bounty on his head,
he vanishes, leaving his oldlife in ruins.
(02:36):
Now here's where the story getswild.
In Hamburg, Germany, hereinvents himself, shedding his
name like a worn-out coat.
He emerges as Felipe EnriqueNeri and he calls himself a
Baron, a self-styled Dutchnobleman fleeing the French
(02:57):
invasion of Holland.
It's a bold-faced lie, but heplays it like a master.
By 1795, he's in Spanish,Louisiana, sweet-talking
Governor Francisco Luis Hectorde Corondelet, with tales of
aristocracy and grand plans.
The governor, charmed, grantshim 12 square leagues, which is
(03:23):
over 620,000 acres in theOuachita Valley, to settle 500
families.
Felipe promises each family 400acres, tools and a fresh start.
99 families show up, butSpain's funds dry up and the
project collapses.
(03:44):
The land titles he issued sparklawsuits and drag wrong for
decades a tangle of brokenpromises.
The Louisiana Gazette latercalled it a venture, as
ambitious as it was doomed.
But unfazed, our so-called conman Baron sets his sights on
(04:04):
Spanish Texas.
By 1806, he's in San Antoniorunning a freighting business
and cozying up the localofficials.
He becomes second alcalde,which is a deputy mayor, playing
the part of a loyal Spaniardwhile hiding his fugitive past.
His military-like cunningshines in 1820 when he meets
(04:26):
Moses Austin, a Missourientrepreneur with a bold idea.
Moses wants to bring 300Anglo-American families to Texas
.
Now Governor Antonio MariaMartinez shuts it down, says
Anglos are trouble.
But Felipe, with his knack forstrategy, steps in.
He argues that the settlerscould fortify Texas against
(04:47):
Comanche raids and boost theeconomy, a pitch that would
resonate with any soldierplanning a defense.
So Martinez relents and thedeal is sealed.
Tragically, Moses Austin dies in1821, but Felipe keeps the
dream alive.
He guides Moses' son, Stephen FAustin, through the same
(05:09):
negotiations, securing the grantfor the Old 300, Texas' first
major Anglo-American colony.
They call it the Old 300because they were the 300
settlers that came to Texas andsettled it.
As commissioner Felipe maps outland along the Brazos River,
ensuring that settlers get theirplots, he later serves as a
(05:31):
legislator in Saltillo, pushingthe 1825 Colonization Act that
opens Texas to more immigrantsand establishes a port at
Galveston.
Now his influence is undeniable.
But when he dies in 1827, he'spenniless, buried in a modest
grave in Saltillo, his funeralpaid for by colleagues.
(05:53):
The Texas Gazette noted hispassing with a single line "a
man of vision left with nothingbut his name.
Now let's jump to 1832.
There's a rugged settlementalong the Colorado River, just
east of what is now Austin,texas.
This is one of Stephen FAustin's earliest colonies.
(06:15):
It's a place of log cabins,muddy trails and constant
vigilance.
Settlers built a fort to fendoff Comanche raids, their
muskets always at the ready, ascene any military man would
recognize, with sentries postedand defenses planned.
(06:37):
By 1837, as Texas wins itsindependence from Mexico, these
pioneers decide to rename theirsettlement and they chose to
honor a man who helped maketheir new home possible, the man
who convinced Spanish officialsto let Anglo settlers in.
So why honor this so-calledBaron?
Well, the settlers may not haveknown the full story, you know
(06:58):
about his embezzlement and hisfake title.
Or maybe they did and theyadmired his grit.
Texas, after all, was a land ofreinvention where outcasts and
dreamers staked their claims.
(07:18):
A local paper in 1837, theAustin American, praised the
renaming as a tribute to a manwho bridged empires, never
hinting at his shady past.
His name was carved into thetown, a county, and even
monuments, one at the courthouseand another at a nearby state
park.
This con man's legacy became acornerstone of Texas history,
and here's where the story turns.
The man they named his town forwasn't a Baron at all.
(07:41):
He was Philippe Hendrick NeringBogle, a fugitive tax collector
who spun a tale so audacious itchanged the state.
Without his deception, theAustin colony might have
faltered and Texas' Anglosettlement could have taken a
different path.
A con man, yeah, but a con manwho built a future.
(08:05):
And the town that bears his name, well, it is named after Felipe
Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop.
That's right, it's Bastrop,Texas, a place where history and
charm collide, waiting for youto explore.
And now that you know thetown's name, let's talk about
(08:26):
why Bastrop Texas is worth avisit.
Now, I've been through theremany times because I live in
Houston and I go to San Antonioand Austin and it's kind of
right in between.
So I go through Bastrop a lot.
And with a population of about10,000, it's a town nestled in
the Lost Pines, where theColorado River winds through a
(08:46):
forest that feels like it cameout of East Texas and got stuck.
Bastrop's brick-lined streetsand historic sites make it a
perfect stop for anyone chasingthe stories behind the places we
love.
You can kick off your Bastropadventure at the Bastrop County
Historical Museum on Main Street.
It's a treasure trove of theBaron's story, with exhibits on
(09:09):
his role in the Austin Colony,alongside settler artifacts like
1830s rifles and Comanchearrowheads and Texas Revolution
letters.
Military history buffs love thereplica of the 1832 fort where
settlers stood guard againstraids, a nod to the strategic
grid of, you know, the frontierlife in Texas at that time.
(09:31):
The museum's open Wednesdaythrough Sunday and admissions
just a couple of dollars.
You can checkbastrophistorymuseum.
org for hours.
You can head over to the Baronde Bastrop Monument on the
courthouse grounds.
It's a stone marker honoringour illustrious con band.
(09:55):
There's another one in BastropState Park, which is a 6,600
acre haven of pine trees whichare really unique for being 100
miles west of the Texas mainpine belt.
You can hike 8.5 mile LostPines Trail.
You can spot deer andarmadillos and other critters.
Or you can stay in a 1930sCivilian Conservation Corps
(10:19):
built cabin for a little bit ofhistory and you can book that
and I'm going to give you thiswebsite.
It's called tpwdtexas.
gov, which is Texas Parks andWildlife.
The park's a reminder of theland the barren settlers fought
to claim.
(10:40):
Downtown Bastrop downtown iskind of like a time capsule.
Main Street's 1880s buildingshouse gems like Lock Drug, a
pharmacy that's turned, fountainfountains serving cherry
phosphate straight out of 1896.
You can browse the Lost PinesArt Center for local art, or you
can rent a kayak from BastropRiver Company to paddle the
(11:02):
Colorado River where earlysettlers fished and traded you
hungry.
Maxine's Cafe dishes up chickenfried steak.
That's just pure comfort, man.
And they've got the bestbreakfast in town.
602 Brewing Company pours LostPines lager.
That hits the spot on a hotsummer day, man, and for a
(11:24):
luxurious stay.
The Hyatt Regency Lost PinesResort and Spa offers riverfront
views and a spa which isperfect for unwinding
.
if you like history, don't skipthe 1832 Bastrop County
Courthouse.
It's a Greek revival stunnerman.
Texas is known for itscourthouses in these small
(11:47):
counties.
They're just architecturalwonders, and Bastrop is no
different than the rest of them.
This Greek revival courthouseis just gorgeous.
Its archives hold Austin Colonyrecords and maybe even a trace
of the Barron's deals.
The old Bastrop County Jail isnow a museum and it shows off
(12:08):
iron sails and tales of frontierjustice.
Kind of creepy but it'sfascinating.
Z L PBastrop's events bring the past
to life.
In December, the Lost PinesChristmas Festival lights up
downtown with parades andcarolers victorian charms and
military history Baron's loversYou can mark your calendars for
the annual Heroes and Hot RodsVeterans Weekend Car Show.
(12:31):
It's held around Veterans Dayevery year and they have other
festivals throughout the yearthat you can check out.
Just go to the Bastrop Countywebsite or the Bastrop City
website and look up theirfestivals.
You can grab a bicycle and headto the riverfront County
website or the Bastrop Citywebsite and look up their
festivals.
You can grab a bicycle and headto the riverfront soaking in
the pines and history.
And for thrills I don't do thisanymore, but you can go
(12:51):
ziplining through zip-lost pines, zipline over the forest where
settlers once stood watch.
So why visit this town?
Well Baron it's where historybreathes.
It's in the streets, the riversand the pines.
Man.
You can walk where the barrensettlers built their dreams, eat
where modern Texans gather andfeel a story that's equal parts
(13:12):
deception and triumph.
It's a place that honors a conman, not for his lies, but for
the legacy he forged.
visitbastrop.
(14:18):
thetravelingfool.
(15:15):
.
So let's get back to our barrenFelipe Enrique Neri.
He wasn't a nobleman, he was afugitive, but he was also a
dreamer and a schemer who spun atale so grand that it reshaped
Texas.
His name on Bastrop's map is anod to second chances, to the
audacity of a man who turnedfiction into fact.
So pack your bags and head overto Bastrop, texas.
Visit the museum, paddle theriver, stand by the Barron's
Monument and ask yourself was hea hero or a hustler?
Well, the answer is waiting inthe pines of the town named
after a con man.
So thanks for joining me today.
Go to visitbastropcom and youcan plan your trip, or stop by
the Bastrop Visitor Center.
It's on Main Street.
You can get maps and tips onwhere to go and what to do and
see.
If you've got a story about adestination you'd like covered,
well, send me an email at theeditor at thetravelingfoolcom
and I might just feature it nexttime.
Editor at thetravelingfoolcom.
And I might just feature itnext time.
I'm Bob Bales, and until nexttime, safe travels, thank you.
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