Henry Franklin Severens
From 1897's Bench and Bar of Michigan
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
In office February 20, 1900 – October 3, 1911
Appointed by	William McKinley
Preceded by	William Howard Taft
Succeeded by	Arthur Carter Denison
Judge of the United States Circuit Courts for the Sixth Circuit
In office February 20, 1900 – October 3, 1911
Appointed by	William McKinley
Preceded by	William Howard Taft
Succeeded by	Arthur Carter Denison
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
In office May 25, 1886 – March 16, 1900
Appointed by	Grover Cleveland
Preceded by	Solomon Lewis Withey
Succeeded by	George P. Wanty
Personal details
Born	Henry Franklin Severens (1835-05-11)May 11, 1835 Rockingham, Vermont
Died	June 8, 1923(1923-06-08) (aged 88) Kalamazoo, Michigan
Resting place	Mountain Home Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	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. ^[2]

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. ^[2]

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. ^[2]

Death

Severens died on June 8, 1923, in Kalamazoo. ^[2]

References

Sources

• Henry Franklin Severens at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.