Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-15
From Rockville, Indiana.
AN INTERESTING TRIP-AUGUsTA MEN LIv-
ING IN INDIANA, &c.

ROCKVILLE, IND. Aug. ~, 1856.
Editor Spectator Thinking that your
many readers would be interested in letter
from this portion of the West, and especi-
ally those of your subscribers who have
friends and relatives here, have concluded
to impose upon your valuable space suf
ficient to give short account of my trip
from the "Old Dominion" and sojOurn
among the Hoosiers.
I left Staunton on the 18th of July last,
accompanied by my family, and after
pleasant ride over the popular and romantic
Chesapeake and Ohio road, arrived at
Louisville, KY, on the following evening.
The Journey was especially interesting
through the celebrated "Blue Grass" region
of Kentucky. I would advise persons trav-
cling that route to leave Staunton on a train
that will afford daylight ride from Hunt
ington to Louisville, giving an opportunity
to see the country. From Louisville, we
went North to Indianapolis, travelling one
of the finest sections of Indiana, and of the
Union, for distance of one hundred miles.
Through this region nothing meets the eye
but miles upon miles of agricultural lands
on both sides of the road which look like
one continuous garden. We arrived at In
dianapolis in the forenoon of the second
day, where we took the "Vandalia Line"
for Rockville, ria Terre Haute, arriving
at P. M. l will take occasion here to ad-
wise travellers to purchase tickets from In
dianapolis by the Vandalia line of road, as
that is the only one from indianapolis which
enters the Union depot at Terre Haute.
We are now stopping with our friends,
Drs. Cross and Gillum. in Rockville, which
is the county seat of Parke Co., the center
of the great Wabash Valley. Rockville is
i >1,a ,f I>A,,
lation, splendidly located, and beautifully
built for town of its size. The town has
one of the finest urt-houses in the State,
built of dressed stone and iron, with white
and black tessellated marble floors, which
make it fire proof. 1t is one hundred and
twenty feet by ninety-fve with two stories
and basement. The beautiful architecture
of the building, with its splendid location
in the center of beautiful square, taste
fully laid out in stone walk, and set in blue
grass. and beautiful maple trees, serve to
make it one of the handsomest structures
have ever seen. The construction of the
building was superintended by a Firginian,
Mr.. James W. East, who at one time
worked in Staunton for Mr.. Shomo. I find
a great many ViIginians located in and
about Rockville. In fact the county was
settled principally by them and North
Carolinians, and large number of them
came from Augusta and Rockbridge coun-
ties. 1t is, of course, impossible to mention
all who hail from old Augusta and Rock
bridge, but will risk giving ofense by
naming a few. John OFT, Esq.,, came in
an early day from New Providence neigh
borhood. He has an elegant estate one
mile from, and in sight of town. Mr.. Ott
has been one of the most energetic farmers
and progressive business men Of the county,
and his industry is rewarded by his being
one of the wealthiest citizens. He built 6
large business house on the Public ,quare
which greatly improved the town, and wal
. instrumental in the construction o. TN