Frank F. Neutze
Frank F. Neutze Sr., born on December 22, 1894, in Camden, New Jersey, to Harry and Mary Neutze, was part of the Ferdinand Neutze family, known for their diverse professional involvements in Camden during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ferdinand Neutze, a retailer of shoes, set a precedent for entrepreneurship and professional engagement that Frank and other family members followed.
Frank Neutze grew up in Camden, receiving his early education at Fetters Elementary School and Camden High School. By 1910, he was already pursuing law studies, reflecting his early commitment to the legal profession. The Neutze family, during this time, resided at 339 Spruce Street, in close proximity to the immigrant couple, Mr. and Mrs. Rocco Fanelle.
Neutze completed his law education at Temple University in Philadelphia and was admitted to the New Jersey bar by June 1917. Around this time, he married his wife, Anna, and served in the United States Army during World War I, achieving the rank of first lieutenant. The post-war period saw the Neutzes living at 756 Federal Street in Camden, and Frank establishing his own law office, which was located at 525 Cooper Street by 1947.
The 1920s marked a period of prosperity and growth for Neutze's law practice. He and Anna had a daughter, Helen, and a son, Frank Jr. His professional achievements included appointments as a New Jersey State Supreme Court commissioner and city solicitor for Camden in 1923. On April 11, 1927, he became a District Court judge, though his bid for election to the City Commission in May 1927, under the endorsement of the Non-Partisan League, was unsuccessful.
Neutze also contributed to legal education, teaching at the South Jersey Law School. The family resided in Parkside and later moved to 204 Kings Highway in Haddon Heights, NJ, by 1930. In 1932, Neutze served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention that nominated Franklin D. Roosevelt. By June 1933, one of his former students, Benjamin Asbell, was practicing law at Neutze's firm. In May 1934, he was appointed a judge in the court of common pleas, a position he held for several years before returning to private practice.
Neutze's civic engagement included participation in the American Legion and election as president of the Camden Reciprocity Club on May 16, 1934. His contributions extended beyond his professional and civic roles, as seen in his nurturing of future legal talents like Benjamin Asbell and his clerk, Private Emmett W. Ross, who was killed in action in 1945.
Frank F. Neutze passed away in September 1980, leaving behind a legacy of legal and civic contributions in Camden. His son continued the family tradition in law, practicing in the Camden area before relocating to Richmond, Virginia, in the late 1980s.
