John Milton Killits Explained

John Milton Killits
Office:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Term Start:October 6, 1928
Term End:September 13, 1938
Office1:Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Term Start1:June 24, 1910
Term End1:October 6, 1928
Appointer1:William Howard Taft
Predecessor1:Seat established by 36 Stat. 202
Successor1:George Philip Hahn
Birth Name:John Milton Killits
Birth Date:7 October 1858
Birth Place:Lithopolis, Ohio
Party:Republican
Education:Williams College (A.B., A.M.)
George Washington University Law School (LL.B., LL.M.)
Signature:John Milton Killits signature.png

John Milton Killits (October 7, 1858 – September 13, 1938) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Education and career

Born in Lithopolis, Ohio, Killits received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Williams College in 1880, a Bachelor of Laws from Columbian University School of Law (now George Washington University Law School) in 1885, a Master of Laws from the same institution in 1886, and an Artium Magister degree from Williams College in 1887. He published a daily and weekly newspaper in Red Oak, Iowa from 1880 to 1883, and worked for the United States Department of War in Washington, D.C., starting March 1884, before becoming private secretary to General William Babcock Hazen, chief signal officer of the United States Army.[1] He was in private practice in Bryan, Ohio from 1888 to 1904, also working as a prosecuting attorney of Williams County, Ohio from 1893 to 1899. He was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the Third Ohio District from 1905 to 1910.

Federal judicial service

On June 21, 1910, Killits was nominated by President William Howard Taft to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio created by . He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 24, 1910, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status on October 6, 1928, serving in that capacity until his death on September 13, 1938.

Personal

Killits was married to Alice Nourse Steuart, June 21, 1887, in Washington, D.C., and had two daughters.[1] [2]

Memberships

Killits was a member of several Quadrennial General Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church.[2] He was a Mason, Chi Psi, Phi Delta Phi, Knights of Pythias, and a Republican.[2]

Other interests

Killits had hobbies including carpentry, motor boating, the study of sociology and the history of the bible.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bench and Bar of Ohio: a Compendium of History and Biography . George Irving . Reed . Emilius Oviatt . Randall . Charles Theodore . Greve . 2 . 1897 . Century Publishing and Engraving Company . Chicago . 186–188 .
  2. Book: Bench and Bar of Northern Ohio History and Biography . Neff . William B . The Historical Publishing Company . Cleveland . 496–497 . 1921 .
  3. Book: Winter, Nevin O . A History of Northwest Ohio . 2. Lewis Publishing Company . 1917 . 663–664.