Lawyer, Publisher, and Soldier. "General" James Neil Bethune was a lawyer and editor best known for his early advocacy of secession and being the manager of African-American musical prodigy Blind Tom Wiggins. After graduating from the University of Georgia ca. 1823, he partnered with A. Y. Gresham to establish a law office in Columbus. He served as a lieutenant in Hoxey's Battalion during the Creek War of 1832. In 1838, he began publishing the 'Georgia Argus' but it failed to find a market and was discontinued within two years. He held a successful tenure as editor of the 'Columbus Times' during the 1840s, but it was the publication of his second upstart paper 'The Cornerstone' in 1852 that brought him notoriety. In it he argued for free trade, direct taxation, and famously became the first in the South to openly advocate for secession. Bethune's fiery rhetoric and advocacy of disunion earned him the moniker "General". In 1850, he purchased slaves from an estate in Harris County. Amongst them was a blind, autistic child named Thomas Wiggins. Wiggins quickly learned to play the piano under the tutelage of Bethune's daughters and by age five he was composing in a room of his own. Recognizing the child's talent, he hired Tom out to concert promoters, giving the savant national publicity and netting himself about $750,000. Immediately after the Civil War, he moved his family from their house "Solitude" (near present day Columbus State University) to a 420-acre estate in Faquier County, VA. The following year he accompanied Tom on a European tour. He lived in Virginia for almost 30 years - remaining active in state and national politics - until illness forced him to take up residence with his son in Washington, D.C.

Lawyer, Publisher, and Soldier. "General" James Neil Bethune was a lawyer and editor best known for his early advocacy of secession and being the manager of African-American musical prodigy Blind Tom Wiggins. After graduating from the University of Georgia ca. 1823, he partnered with A. Y. Gresham to establish a law office in Columbus. He served as a lieutenant in Hoxey's Battalion during the Creek War of 1832. In 1838, he began publishing the 'Georgia Argus' but it failed to find a market and was discontinued within two years. He held a successful tenure as editor of the 'Columbus Times' during the 1840s, but it was the publication of his second upstart paper 'The Cornerstone' in 1852 that brought him notoriety. In it he argued for free trade, direct taxation, and famously became the first in the South to openly advocate for secession. Bethune's fiery rhetoric and advocacy of disunion earned him the moniker "General". In 1850, he purchased slaves from an estate in Harris County. Amongst them was a blind, autistic child named Thomas Wiggins. Wiggins quickly learned to play the piano under the tutelage of Bethune's daughters and by age five he was composing in a room of his own. Recognizing the child's talent, he hired Tom out to concert promoters, giving the savant national publicity and netting himself about $750,000. Immediately after the Civil War, he moved his family from their house "Solitude" (near present day Columbus State University) to a 420-acre estate in Faquier County, VA. The following year he accompanied Tom on a European tour. He lived in Virginia for almost 30 years - remaining active in state and national politics - until illness forced him to take up residence with his son in Washington, D.C.

Bio by: J. B. Chrismond