In 1865 he became a clerk at Oliver Breed, a lumber business, which evolved into S.A. Guilford & Co, soon after becoming a junior partner at the firm.

[6][7] He was a Mason and published a book on Freemasonry titled ”A half century of William Sutton Lodge F. & A.M:1867-1917”.

[8] As a historian in 1915, and perhaps lack of foresight, he questioned the cost of maintenance of the U.S. Route 1 turnpike, proclaiming that Saugus did not at all reap the benefit, and that it was an unnecessary expense on the town.

His son Horace Jr, married Edith Hall,[11] and followed his fathers footsteps as a local historian.

[12] Atherton was a New England descendant of Puritan heritage,[13] whose ancestors had settled in Massachusetts Colony.