Appomattox in Appomattox County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Isbell House
(the white house in the distance)
Photographed By James Hulse, October 2, 2023
1. The Isbell House Marker
Inscription.
The Isbell House. (the white house in the distance). Brothers Henry and Thomas Bocock built this house in 1848. Henry was the County Clerk of Appomattox (1845-1860). Thomas served as a U. S. Congressman from 1847 to March 1861, when he became the only Speaker of the Confederate House of Representatives. Prior to 1860, Thomas moved four miles northeast to a house he dubbed "Wildway." Lewis D. Isbell then occupied this house. Isbell, Commonwealth's Attorney (1847-1867), represented Appomattox at both secession conventions in February and April 1861, where he voted for secession. A bachelor, Isbell had four sons with his housekeeper, an enslaved woman, Louisa "Kitty" (Patterson) Isbell. Following the war, he became the local Freedmen's Bureau agent after the departure of the Federal Provost Guard. Isbell served as a judge from 1868-1872 before moving to Missouri where he died in 1889., After being killed along the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road on the night of April 8, 1865, Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Root of the 15th New York Cavalry was buried in front of the house. Disinterred in December 1865, his family reburied him in Syracuse, New York., The house serves as Park Headquarters and is not open to the public. You are welcome to explore outside the house., Captions , Lower Left: Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Root , Upper Right: Unidentifed children in front of the Isbell House circa 1901. , Middle Right: Left to Right: Henry Bocock, Thomas Bocock, Lewis Daniel Isbell, Louisa "Kitty" Isbell
Brothers Henry and Thomas Bocock built this house in 1848. Henry was the County Clerk of Appomattox (1845-1860). Thomas served as a U. S. Congressman from 1847 to March 1861, when he became the only Speaker of the Confederate House of Representatives. Prior to 1860, Thomas moved four miles northeast to a house he dubbed "Wildway." Lewis D. Isbell then occupied this house. Isbell, Commonwealth's Attorney (1847-1867), represented Appomattox at both secession conventions in February and April 1861, where he voted for secession. A bachelor, Isbell had four sons with his housekeeper, an enslaved woman, Louisa "Kitty" (Patterson) Isbell. Following the war, he became the local Freedmen's Bureau agent after the departure of the Federal Provost Guard. Isbell served as a judge from 1868-1872 before moving to Missouri where he died in 1889.
After being killed along the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road on the night of April 8, 1865, Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Root of the 15th New York Cavalry was buried in front of the house. Disinterred in December 1865, his family reburied him in Syracuse, New York.
The house serves as Park Headquarters and is not open to the public. You are welcome to explore outside the house.
Captions Lower Left: Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Root Upper
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Right: Unidentifed children in front of the Isbell House circa 1901. Middle Right: Left to Right: Henry Bocock, Thomas Bocock, Lewis Daniel Isbell, Louisa "Kitty" Isbell
Erected by Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Location. 37° 22.593′ N, 78° 47.782′ W. Marker is in Appomattox, Virginia, in Appomattox County. Marker is on National Park Drive, 0.2 miles north of Old Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 24), on the right when traveling north. The marker is located along the walking trail to the courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 National Park Drive, Appomattox VA 24522, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Anticipating Freedom (a few steps from this marker); Appomattox Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); April 1865 (within shouting distance of this marker); McLean House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); County Jail (about 500 feet away); Clover Hill Tavern (about 500
Also see . . . Isbell House. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Submitted on October 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed By James Hulse, October 2, 2023
3. The view of the Isbell House from the marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
