Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Livingston Wellesley Bethel

1845 - 1914

— Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden —

Livingston Wellesley Bethel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

1. Livingston Wellesley Bethel Marker

Inscription. Livingston Bethel was two years old when his father, Judge Winer Bethel, moved from Nassau, Bahama Islands, to Key West. He was educated in a private school in Key West at the Walnut Hill Military Academy in Geneva, New York. He read law under Homer G. Plant, District Attorney for the United States Southern District of Florida. Bethel was admitted to the bar in 1869 and began the practice of law. From 1877 to 1880, he served as Mayor of Key West. In 1880, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Florida as running mate for Governor W.D. Bloxham and served until 1884. From 1885 to 1889 he served as United States District Attorney for the United States Court Southern District of Florida. In 1911, he became Judge of the Criminal Court of record for Monroe County. In June 1911, he was elevated to Judge of the 11th Florida Circuit Court. He was a high-ranking member of the Masons and Grand Master of Dade Lodge and in 1885; he was a member and senior warden of the Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, untiring in his work for the success of the church. Bethel seldom missed a service officiating as lay reader when the church did not have

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a pastor.
Donated by
The Bethel Family,
David D. and Irene Eyer
&
The District I Advisory Committee
of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council

Erected by The Bethel Family, David D. and Irene Eyer, the District I Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Law Enforcement. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1911.

Location. 24° 33.588′ N, 81° 48.411′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from the intersection of Wall Street and Tifts Street. The marker is located within the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Wall Street, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Keys.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

2. Livingston Wellesley Bethel Marker

in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Lowe, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Carlos Manuel De Cespedes y Cespedes (here, next to this marker); Maria Valdez Gutsens (here, next to this marker); Peter Roberts (here, next to this marker); John Watson Simonton (here, next to this marker); Captain Edward "Bra" Saunders (here, next to this marker); Lena Johnson (here, next to this marker); Ernest Hemingway (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . .
1. Livingston W. Bethel. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 12, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The Key West Sculpture Garden – Where History Meets Art. (Submitted on May 16, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 363 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 16, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.