Hopewell, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
City Point’s Wiseman Family
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 31, 2009
1. City Point’s Wiseman Family CWT Marker
The Yankee Soldier met Miss Wiseman at the town well – and married her after the war.
The Wiseman family had settled in City Point many years before Mary Catherine Wiseman married Frederick Belch in 1865. He was a Yankee soldier bivouacked along the waterfront during the Civil War. A granddaughter said, “The town well was next door to grandmother's home which was on the bluff overlooking the James River, and one day he and my grandmother met there.” Belch was mustered out in his hometown of Philadelphia. He returned to City Point soon after and married Miss Wiseman. Fred Belch got a job as the keeper of the lights on the James. Of the couple's six children, five settled in City Point. Their sons worked on the river as lamplighter, river steamer captain, and harbormaster.
Nearby are three family homes – 500, 501, 505 Prince Henry Avenue.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 18.842′ N, 77°
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. A different marker also named City Point's Wiseman Family (here, next to this marker); Women At City Point (within shouting distance of this marker); Taverns (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Housing Several Thousand Federal Troops (about 400 feet away); Dr. Peter Eppes House (about 700 feet away); One Soldier, One Family, One War (about 700 feet away); Quartermaster Repair Shops (about 700 feet away); Clearing the Way (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hopewell.
More about this marker. On the top center of the panel is a portrait of "Mary Catherine Wiseman, wife of Frederick Belch, a former Union soldier under General Grant at City Point."
On the upper center is a photo of the Belch House with the caption, "The home on the right (505 Prince Henry Avenue) is the Belch House (circa 1832) as it looked before it was “modernized.” Family tradition identifies this house as being used to shelter wounded soldiers prior to June, 1864."
On the lower center is a photo with the caption, "William Arnold stands
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 31, 2009
2. Henry Sherman House circa 1912.
On the upper right is a photo of the Sherman house. The caption reads, "Henry Sherman's circa 1912 house (449 Prince Henry Avenue) stands approximately on the site of City Point's first Freedman School, sanctioned by the Federal government just after the Civil War for the education of freed slaves. Residences and businesses lined Main Street, one of two central commercial streets, the other being the waterfront."
On the lower right is a photo of another Belch home with the caption, "500 Prince Henry Avenue (circa 1912) was owned by Willie Belch, a river steamer captain. In the background is the 1914 Du Pont laundry plant."
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location also titled "City Point’s Wiseman Family".
Also see . . . Petersburg National Battlefield. City Point. (Submitted on June 4, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 31, 2009
3. Early 19th century schoolhouse.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,739 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on April 7, 2011, by Jonathan Carruthers of Bealeton, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 4, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
