Joseph D. Bethune
| Joseph D. Bethune | |
|---|---|
| Associate Justice, Arizona Territorial Supreme Court | |
|
In office June 1, 1894 – July 8, 1897 |
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| Nominated by | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Richard Elihu Sloan |
| Succeeded by | George Russell Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 3, 1842 Columbus, Georgia |
| Died | October 8, 1912 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Agnes Clark (m. 1869) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/branch | |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | |
| Battles/wars | |
Joseph Daniel Bethune (July 3, 1842 – October 8, 1912) was an American jurist who served as Associate Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court from 1894 till 1897.
Bethune was born to James N. and Frances (Gundy) Bethune in Columbus, Georgia on July 3, 1842. He was educated in local schools. At the beginning of the American Civil War, Bethune enlisted in the Confederate States Army. He served for the majority of the war and was wounded at the battles of Chickamauga and Malvern Hill. The wound suffered at Chickamauga resulted in an extended hospital stay and its lingered for the rest of his life. Near the end of the war, Bethune had risen to the rank of first lieutenant in command of an artillery company. He surrendered to Union forces at Macon, Georgia.
Following the war, Bethune settled in Warrenton, Virginia where he practiced law and operated a farm. He married Mary Agnes Clark in 1869. The union produced six children: Frank, James N., Isabelle, Joseph D., Fannie, and Mary Agnes.
In 1876, Bethune moved to Los Angeles, California where he continued to work as an attorney. He was appointed register for the Los Angeles land office in September 1885. Bethune resigned from the position in August 1887. Health concerns prompted a move to Tucson, Arizona Territory in March 1893.
On March 22, 1894, Marshall H. Williams received Senate confirmation to become Associate Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court. This triggered a political battle within Arizona's Democratic party. Williams eventually decided to not accept the position and Chief Justice Albert C. Baker recommend the next candidate be selected from outside the territory and thus not aligned with any of the battling factions. President Grover Cleveland nominated Bethune to fill the empty position on May 2, 1894. He was confirmed by the Senate on May 9 and took his oath of office in Tombstone on June 1, 1894. Upon taking office he was assigned to the first judicial district, consisting of Cochise and Pima counties.
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