Henry Franklin Severens Explained

Henry Franklin Severens
Office:Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Term Start:February 20, 1900
Term End:October 3, 1911
Appointer:William McKinley
Predecessor:William Howard Taft
Successor:Arthur Carter Denison
Office1:Judge of the United States Circuit Courts for the Sixth Circuit
Term Start1:February 20, 1900
Term End1:October 3, 1911
Appointer1:William McKinley
Predecessor1:William Howard Taft
Successor1:Arthur Carter Denison
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Term Start2:May 25, 1886
Term End2:March 16, 1900
Appointer2:Grover Cleveland
Predecessor2:Solomon Lewis Withey
Successor2:George P. Wanty
Birth Name:Henry Franklin Severens
Birth Date:11 May 1835
Birth Place:Rockingham, Vermont
Death Place:Kalamazoo, Michigan
Resting Place:Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Rhoda Ranney (m. 1858–1862, her death)
Sarah (Whittlesey) Ryan (m. 1863–1900, her death)
Children:3
Education:Middlebury College (AB)
Profession:Attorney

Henry Franklin Severens (May 11, 1835 – June 8, 1923) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Circuit Courts for the Sixth Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

Education and career

Born in Rockingham, Vermont, Severens received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Middlebury College in 1857 and read law to enter the bar in 1859. He was in private practice in Three Rivers, Michigan from 1860 to 1861. A Democrat in politics,[1] he was prosecuting attorney of St. Joseph County from 1861 to 1864, returning to private practice in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 1865 to 1886. During that time, he was also land developer in Allegan County, Michigan.

Federal judicial service

President Grover Cleveland nominated Severens on May 14, 1886, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan that Judge Solomon Lewis Withey vacated. The United States Senate confirmed him on May 25, 1886, and he received his commission the same day. His service terminated on March 16, 1900, due to his elevation to the Sixth Circuit.

President William McKinley nominated Severens on February 6, 1900, to a joint seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Circuit Courts for the Sixth Circuit that Judge William Howard Taft vacated. The Senate confirmed him on February 20, 1900, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on October 3, 1911, due to his resignation.

Death

Severens died on June 8, 1923, in Kalamazoo.

Sources

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Moore, Charles . Charles Moore (city planner) . 1915 . History of Michigan . IV . Chicago, IL . Lewis Publishing Company . 2296 . Google Books.