DR. FRANCIS O. RITTER, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Scheirer) Ritter, was born in North Whitehall Township. Sept. 10, 1858. He was educated in the local schools and at the age of fifteen became a schoolteacher. While teaching, he took a normal school course at Kutzton during the spring and fall months and in 1878 entered the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, as a student of medicine, where he graduated in 1881. He then began practice at New Tripoli where he remained until 1884. In 1883, he married Ellen, daughter of Levi Hunsicker, of Saegersville. She died in 1887, leaving one daughter. Caste M.. the wife of Rev. A. T. Michler, of Philadelphia.

In 1884, Dr. Ritter located at Schnecksville, where he remained until 1887, when he removed to Philadelphia. where he specialized in diseases of the eye, car and throat. On Sept. 9. 1889, he located at Slatington, where he remained seven years, with a large practice. He married, in 1890, at Slatington. Irene A., daughter of Henry Kuntz. In 1898, he retired from active practice and removed to Allentown, where he built a home at Franklin and Hamilton streets. He became a director of the Merchants' National Bank and on Sept. 6, 1911, was elected its cashier, which position he still holds and where he is recognized as a conservative official and one of sound judgment. Dr. Ritter was a charter member of Christ Lutheran church, in which he is active, and is a member of Slatington Lodge, No. 440, F. & A. M.