Solomon Hicks Bethea

Who was Solomon Hicks Bethea?

Solomon Hicks Bethea was a United States federal judge.

After completing college preparatory work at the Dixon Seminary, Solomon enrolled at the University of Michigan at age 16. He returned to Dixon after graduation and studied law in the Law Office of Eustace, Barge & Dixon. He famously defended the accused killer in the Bloody Gulch Murder trial, perhaps the most notorious case ever heard in Dixon.

Solomon married the love of his life, Katherine Shaw, in 1884. Katherine suffered from a number of health problems. They had no children, and Katherine died of tuberculosis in 1893. A heartbroken Solomon never remarried.

Solomon was twice elected Mayor of Dixon and served in the Illinois State House of Representatives. He was an influential and prominent figure in the early days of the Republican Party, attending nearly every Republican National Convention—once serving as Floor Leader. Solomon’s personal papers show a regular exchange of letters with President Theodore Roosevelt. Judge Bethea was appointed by President William McKinley to United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois on March 18, 1905, to a seat vacated by Christian C. Kohlsaat, and then elevated by President Roosevelt to be Senior Judge of that territory.