Mary Elizabeth Anderson was born in Greene County, Alabama, shortly after the end of the Civil War. Her early life would have been shaped by the economic and social upheaval of the Reconstruction era in the American South, laying the groundwork for her resourcefulness and independence.

Anderson moved to the burgeoning city of Birmingham, Alabama, with her widowed mother and sister. Birmingham was experiencing rapid industrial growth, and Anderson's entrepreneurial spirit likely thrived in this environment. She took various ventures here.

Anderson relocated to Fresno, California, a region known for its agricultural prowess and burgeoning wine industry. This move suggests a desire to explore new opportunities, possibly related to land development or viticulture, foreshadowing her later ventures.

Anderson returned to Birmingham and focused on real estate development. This period marks her active involvement in business and demonstrates her financial acumen and ability to identify profitable opportunities within a growing city.

While visiting New York City during a winter, Anderson observed a streetcar driver struggling to see through the snow-covered windshield. This experience sparked the idea for a device that could clear the windshield from inside the vehicle, enhancing visibility and safety.

Anderson designed a manually operated windshield wiper consisting of a lever inside the vehicle that controlled a spring-loaded rubber blade on the outside of the windshield. She filed and received a patent for her invention, the 'window cleaning device,' on November 10, 1903. The wiper allowed the driver to clear the windshield without leaving their seat, improving safety and efficiency.

Despite its potential, Anderson struggled to find buyers for her invention initially. The automotive industry was still in its early stages, and some deemed the device unnecessary or distracting. She did not actively market or manufacture her device.

As automobile production surged and closed-cabin cars became more prevalent, the demand for windshield wipers increased. The automotive industry began to adopt similar windshield wiper designs, although Anderson did not directly benefit financially from their widespread use due to her patent's expiration and lack of initial commercial success.

Mary Anderson passed away in Monteagle, Tennessee, at the age of 87. While she did not achieve widespread recognition during her lifetime, her invention ultimately revolutionized driving safety and cemented her legacy as an innovative thinker and problem-solver.