Mary Alderson was born near
Le Raysville, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1849. Her parents, John Alderson (1805–1881) and Margaret (Wilson) Alderson (1805–1888), were both natives of
Sedbergh, England. Atherton's birthplace was from any town of importance, the only connection with which was the
stagecoach. When other children of her age were profiting by proximity to the railroad, the telegraph, music, art, literature and other facilities for education, she was peering through the small windows of her stone house, dreaming of places beyond home. Her parents were plain people, whose wealth, they used to say, lay chiefly in their children, of whom there were eight boys and three girls, Atherton's siblings being James, Joshua, Elizabeth, Henry, George, Franklin, and Frederick. Her education began in the typical country school, open three months in winter and three in summer. It was continued at the village academy one term and at the Orwell Hill graded school three terms, a teacher's certificate then being granted her at the age of fifteen. At sixteen, or as early as the law of the State of
Pennsylvania permitted, she began teaching in a small country school in what was locally known as the "Cleveland District". A letter came from an elder brother, who many years before had gone prospecting in the West. The letter said in part:— Atherton eagerly seized the unexpected opportunity, entering the State Normal School,
Mansfield, Pennsylvania (now,
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania), graduating with the honors of her class in the spring of 1868. ==Career==