John Milton Killits
Encyclopedia
John Milton Killits was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Lithopolis, Ohio
, Killits received an A.B.
from Williams College
in 1880, an LL.B. from Columbian University in 1885, an LL.M. from Columbian University in 1886, and an A.M.
from Williams College
in 1887. He published a daily and weekly newspaper in Red Oak, Iowa
, 1880-1883, and worked in the War Department at Washington, starting March 1884, before becoming private secretary to General William Babcock Hazen
, chief signal officer, U.S. Army. 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 on the Court of Common Pleas, 3rd Ohio District from 1905 to 1910.
On June 21, 1910, Killits was nominated by President William H. 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, in 1938.
Killits was married to Alice Nourse Steuart, June 21, 1887, at Washington, D.C.
, and had two daughters.
Killits was a member of several Quadrennial General Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a Mason
, Chi Psi
, Phi Delta Phi
, Knights of Pythias
, and a Republican.
Killits had hobbies including carpentry, motor boating, the study of sociology and the history of the bible.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Lithopolis, Ohio
Lithopolis, Ohio
Lithopolis is a village in Fairfield and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 600 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Lithopolis is located at ....
, Killits received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1880, an LL.B. from Columbian University in 1885, an LL.M. from Columbian University in 1886, and an A.M.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1887. He published a daily and weekly newspaper in Red Oak, Iowa
Red Oak, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,742 in the city, with a population density of . There were 2,887 housing units, of which 2,406 were occupied....
, 1880-1883, and worked in the War Department at Washington, starting March 1884, before becoming private secretary to General William Babcock Hazen
William Babcock Hazen
William Babcock Hazen was a career United States Army officer who served in the Indian Wars, as a Union general in the American Civil War, and as Chief Signal Officer of the U.S. Army...
, chief signal officer, U.S. Army. He was in private practice in Bryan, Ohio
Bryan, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,528 households, and 2,155 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,821.7 people per square mile . There were 3,733 housing units at an average density of 816.1 per square mile...
from 1888 to 1904, also working as a prosecuting attorney of Williams County, Ohio
Williams County, Ohio
Williams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 37,642. Its county seat is Bryan and is named for David Williams, one of the captors of John André in the American Revolutionary War.-Geography:According to the U.S...
from 1893 to 1899. He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, 3rd Ohio District from 1905 to 1910.
On June 21, 1910, Killits was nominated by President William H. Taft to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is the federal trial court for the northern half of Ohio...
created by . He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 24, 1910, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on October 6, 1928, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1938.
Killits was married to Alice Nourse Steuart, June 21, 1887, at Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and had two daughters.
Killits was a member of several Quadrennial General Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, Chi Psi
Chi Psi
Chi Psi Fraternity is a fraternity and secret society consisting of 29 active chapters at American colleges and universities. It was founded on Thursday May 20, 1841, by 10 students at Union College with the idea of emphasizing the fraternal and social principles of a brotherhood...
, Phi Delta Phi
Phi Delta Phi
Phi Delta Phi, ΦΔΦ, is the world's second largest legal fraternity. Phi Delta Phi is the second oldest legal organization in continuous existence in the United States and third oldest in North America...
, Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
, and a Republican.
Killits had hobbies including carpentry, motor boating, the study of sociology and the history of the bible.