Robert Lee Bethune

Robert Lee Bethune

Robert Lee Bethune. In old Robeson and new Hoke County the name Bethune has been one of distinction for practical achievement and value of citizenship for many generations. A finer class of people exists nowhere than the North Carolina Scotch, and the Bethunes have their proper share of honors among this worthy race.

A short time before the Revolutionary war Colin Bethune came from Scotland, and making settlement acquired land which was for many years the Bethune homestead in North Carolina. The old place is easily distinguished now, because it is the site of the state tuberculosis sanitarium, about ten miles west of Raeford in Hoke, but formerly Robeson County. A more beautiful bit of topography can hardly lie found in the entire state. Its selection for the tuberculosis sanitarium was based upon considerations of altitude, favorable climatic conditions, pure water, and the general charm and beauty of the landscape constituting an almost ideal environment.

A son of Colin Bethune was Hon. Lauchlin Bethune, who represented this district of North Carolina in Congress in the days when Andrew Jackson was President. He was a man of learning and versatile ability, and his leadership meant much to the people of old Cumberland County.

M.D. Bethune, a son of Lauchlin, was born at the old Bethune homestead in 1842, but now lives at Raeford and among other worthy features of his record is widely known as the founder of the famous Edinburg Farm. At the outset of his manhood, in 1861, he left his father's plantation in the month of April and enlisted at Fayetteville with the Second North Carolina Cavalry. He was with Captain Strange's command. His own service was continuous with the length of the war. He was in nearly all the greater battles of Lee's army of Northern Virginia, including Gettysburg. The war over, he returned to the old homestead above described and remained there until 1900. He had in the meantime bought a large body of agricultural land at Raeford, and there he established the Edinburg Farm. This is a notable agricultural enterprise and one of the largest and most profitably conducted farms in this part of the state. It consists of about 1,000 acres, lying partly within the city limits of Raeford, and extending westward from the city.

In late years Mr. M.D. Bethune has divided most of this land among his children, including his two sons Robert Lee and Luke. Luke Bethune is now active manager of the farm. Approximately 500 acres are in cultivation, requiring about twenty-five plows and other equipment to correspond. Edinburg Farm has contributed no modest share to the crop of North Carolina cotton in recent years.

M.D. Bethuue is a fine type of the old-time Southerner. He has a great fund of historical reminiscences, and is a most interesting gentleman wliom everyone likes to have around. His wife, now deceased, was Margaret Jane Blue.

Robert Lee Bethuue, who represents the fourth generation of this family in North Carolina, has nad a career of more than ordinary experience and service, and is now the popular register of deeds of Hoke County.

He was born on the old Bethuue place above described in 1872, and while growing up there attended the local schools. In 1894 he went to Louisiana and for the next fourteen years was engaged in the turpentine industry in that state. On his return to his native state in 1908 he became associated with his father and brother in the operation of the Edinburgh Farm, in which he still retained a large interest.

Mr. Bethune was one of the local citizens who did most to bring about the creation of the separate County of Hoke in 1911, and three years later, in 1914, his abilities were called to use in the office of register of deeds, and by re-election in 1916 he is still the incumbent. He has made a most capable administrative official. He has the faculty of combining utmost courtesy along with prompt and careful transaction of all his duties. Those who have business with his office discover that his official manner is the same with all, rich or poor, and uninfluenced by politics or any other conventional considerations. Mr. Bethune is himself a democrat. He worships as a Presbyterian. He is married, his wife having been Miss Mattie McDougald.

Source: History of North Carolina, Vol. VI, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York ©1919