Page 232 - 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.

st
Most Worshipful Brother Neterer was made a Mason in Bellingham Bay Lodge #144 on March 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.

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