Camp Austin / Morgan Foods

The Morgan Packing Company was founded in 1899 in Austin, Indiana. Advances in canning technology — coupled with the region's rich soil and favorable climate — created the perfect environment for a group of entrepreneurial young men to build a canning plant. Morgan Foods history in Austin Indiana and includes a unique story during the World War II era.

The Morgan Family was concerned how their factory Morgan Packing Company would stay in operation during war time. It had been many years since the company, the town of Austin and our country faced such dire economic circumstances. One problem was a depleted work force, most young men were sent overseas to defend the United States.

In order to keep the cannery in operation I.C. Morgan sought profitable government contracts, which included making food for the Armed Forces. He lobbied as many political powers as he could, and eventually the company was awarded a huge contract.

He was then faced with the challenge of finding enough people to staff the operation. A lot of women from the community were already working at the plant, and the company’s efforts to recruit employees across five Midwestern states were futile. All men available were serving their country, and there wasn’t anyone to fill the jobs Morgan Packing had available.

Due to the critical labor shortage when the 1944 canning season arrived, several packing plants applied to use prisoners of war being held at Camp Atterbury, IN. Consequently, the army established a branch prisoner of war camp at Morgan Packing Company in Austin, Indiana.

Under the guard of the United States Army as many as 1,500 German and Italian prisoners were stationed in Austin at one point. Along with those prisoners were hundreds of armed U.S. Soldiers all stationed together in what the government called Camp Austin. The camp was located north of Morgan Packing Company adjacent to company property.

The only known escapees from Austin were Max Winded and Max Bauer. Both men were missing during a late check on September 19, 1944. Federal, state, and Scott County authorities joined in the search. On September 21st hunger forced the escapees to a farmhouse near Austin where Military Police from Camp Atterbury apprehended them.