BIO: David ATHERTON, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  DAVID ATHERTON, a member of the well-known firm of Jackman & 
Atherton, Philipsburg, Centre county, is widely known in business 
circles as a man of undoubted integrity, conducting his interests with 
ability and strict regard to details. He is a worthy representative of 
a prominent English family, and was born in Liverpool, England, 
February 11, 1858, a son of William and Sophia (Bessett) Atherton, who 
spent their entire lives in that country. The father was a quiet, 
unassuming man, a coal operator by occupation, and a member of the 
Wesleyan Church, to which his wife also belonged. He died in 1875, at 
the age of sixty-six years, and she passed away two years previously at 
the age of sixty-two.
  Ten children were born to this worthy couple, namely: Robert, who is 
now living a retired life in Liverpool; Thomas, who is engaged in the 
butchering business in Leigh, Lancashire, England; Abraham, a lead-pipe 
manufacturer, of Prescott, England; Hannah, wife of James Baines, ex-
police superintendent of Lancashire; James B., a manufacturer of 
insulating electric wire in Prescott, England, owning one of the 
largest plants in the country, worth a million dollars; Sarah, wife of 
James Kerfoot, who is interested in a grist mill in Leigh, England; 
Jacob, who is with his brother James in business; Job, who is connected 
with coal mining in England, and died in 1893, at the age of twenty-six 
years; and David, of this review. Our subject, who is the only 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  487

one of the family living in this country, has twenty-six nieces and 
twenty-eight nephews.
  Until sixteen years of age David Atherton attended school, thus 
acquiring a good practical education. He then began his business career 
as a bricklayer, and for eight years successfully engaged in 
contracting along that line in his native land, making his home with 
his parents until twenty years of age. In 1881 he crossed the Atlantic 
to America, and for a year and a half was a resident of Wellsville, 
Ohio, where he contracted in brick laying. Coming to Philipsburg, he 
was for several years engaged in the same business here, and erected 
all of the State College buildings in Centre county with the exception 
of the old stone one. He also put up a National Bank building in 
Huntingdon county, Penn. For the past three years, however, he has been 
connected with the coal interests of Centre county in partnership with 
E. R. Jackman, owning and operating the Colorado mine No. 3, located on 
Beach road, Cambria Co., Penn., which covers 420 acres. It has a 
capacity of 100,000 tons per year of the best bituminous coal. Mr. 
Atherton is also sole owner of the Juniata Coal mine, located on the 
Pennsylvania railroad in Cambria county, which covers 106 acres and has 
a capacity of 60,000 tons annually. He has met with a well-deserved 
success in his business venture, is straightforward and reliable in all 
transactions, and from the public receives a liberal patronage, for his 
honorable dealing and courteous treatment commend him to the confidence 
of all.
  In Philipsburg, May 16, 1888, Mr. Atherton was united in marriage 
with Miss Emma L. Goldman. They are consistent and earnest members of 
the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he is a Republican. He is a 
leader in musical circles, taking a prominent part in promoting that 
art throughout the county. He comes of a family which is noted for its 
musical talent, its members being naturally good instrumental and vocal 
musicians. In disposition he is genial, in manner courteous and 
affable, and those who know him recognize the true worth of his 
character, and therefore entertain for him the highest regard.