Henry Franklin Severens

Who was Henry Franklin Severens?

Henry Franklin Severens was a United States federal judge.

Born in Rockingham, Vermont, Severens received an A.B. 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. He was a prosecuting attorney of St. Joseph County, Michigan 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.

On May 14, 1886, Severens was nominated by President Grover Cleveland to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan vacated by Solomon Lewis Withey. Severens was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 25, 1886, and received his commission the same day.

On February 6, 1900, Severens was nominated by President William McKinley to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated by William Howard Taft's appointment to a commission to organize a civilian government in the Philippines. Severens was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 20, 1900, and received his commission the same day.