Mary was a native of Germany and immigrated in 1903. She arrived at New York City on August 10, 1903, as a 10 year old passenger on the SS Finland, with her mother Bertha and six younger siblings. She was living in Coalport, Pa., at the time of her marriage to William Boxler.

William was a machinist with Cambria Steel Co., in Johnstown, Pa. By 1920, the family was in Akron, Oh., where William worked at a rubber factory.