Solomon Hicks Bethea (May 18, 1852 – August 3, 1909) was an American attorney, politician and judge. He was appointed United States district judge for the Northern District of Illinois by Theodore Roosevelt. He also served as United States Attorney for the same district, was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for one term, and was Mayor of Dixon, Illinois.

Solomon H. Bethea
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
In office
March 18, 1905 – August 3, 1909
Appointed byTheodore Roosevelt
Preceded byChristian Cecil Kohlsaat
Succeeded byGeorge Albert Carpenter
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
In office
1899–1905
PresidentWilliam McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded byJohn C. Black
Succeeded byCharles B. Morrison
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
1882–1883
Personal details
Born
Solomon Hicks Bethea

(1852-05-18)May 18, 1852
Lee County, Illinois, U.S.
DiedAugust 3, 1909(1909-08-03) (aged 57)
Sterling, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationJurist

Career

edit

Born in Lee County, Illinois, Bethea read law in 1876.

He was in private practice in Dixon, Illinois, from 1877 to 1898. He was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1882 to 1883 and Mayor of Dixon. He was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1899 to 1905.

Bethea was nominated by President Theodore Roosevelt on March 18, 1905, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by Judge Christian Cecil Kohlsaat. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 18, 1905, and received his commission the same day.

Death

edit

Bethea died on August 3, 1909.[1][2][3]

References

edit
  1. ^ Solomon Hicks Bethea at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Berryhill to Betz". politicalgraveyard.com.
  3. ^ 'Report of the Thirty-Third Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association held at Chattanooga, Tennessee, August 30, August 31 and September 1, 1910,' The Lord Baltimore Press, Baltimore, Maryland: 1910, Biographical Sketch of Solomon Hicks Bethea, pg. 664-665

Sources

edit
Legal offices
Preceded by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
1899–1905
Succeeded by
Charles B. Morrison
Preceded by United States district judge for the Northern District of Illinois
1905–1909
Succeeded by