Page 241 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Jeremiah Neterer

1910-1911

Jeremiah Neterer was born January 22, 1862 near Goshen, Indiana.
He graduated from Northern Indiana Law School (now Valparaiso
Law School) in 1885. He moved to Bellingham to practice his
profession in 1890. From 1890 to 1913 he operated a private law
practice. In 1893 he was elected city attorney for the City of
Bellingham and served as a judge for the Whatcom County
Superior Court from 1901-1913. During this time, Judge Neterer
organized the juvenile court in Whatcom County and set aside
Saturdays for conferences with youth and their parents.

In 1913, Woodrow Wilson appointed Justice Neterer to the bench
of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. He served in that
capacity until his mandatory retirement on May 31, 1933.

Justice Neterer was quite active in civic and religious affairs. He was chairman of the State
Democratic Convention in 1898 and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1912.
He served on the boards of several educational institutions including Bellingham Normal School
(now Western Washington University) and Whitman College.

In May 1887, he married Sarah E. Becker. This union was blessed with four children. His first
wife died in 1936 and several years later he married Linda J. George who survived him.

Most Worshipful Brother Neterer was made a Mason in Bellingham Bay Lodge #144 on March
st
21 1889 and served as its Worshipful Master in 1905. At the same time, he became an active
participant in the Grand Lodge. He was appointed Grand Orator in 1905 and elected Junior Grand
Warden in 1907.
M⸫ W⸫ Brother Neterer was called unexpectedly to the celestial Lodge on February 2, 1943 while
on special assignment for the U. S. District Court. He was buried in Seattle.