Harriet Eliza (Sanderson) Deming was born June 19, 1872, in Colfax, Jasper County, Iowa, the daughter of Captain John W. and Sarah N. (Coe) Sanderson. Harriet and her brother Will were orphaned at an early age and reared by maternal relatives in New England.
Prior to 1892, she married Reverend Clyde Washington Deming in Massachusetts. They moved about frequently in the New England area, which was typical of Methodist ministers in those days.
Harriet and Clyde had five children: Rowena Flick, born December 16, 1892; John Miley, born July 22, 1896; Clyde William, born April 16, 1900; Adelbert Douglas, born November 27, 1906; and Clark Sanderson Deming, born June 2, 1914.
Because Harriet suffered from sinusitis, her doctors recommended a move to a drier climate. In 1906, the family moved to Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona Territory, where Clyde had secured an appointment with the local Methodist Church.
Three years later they moved to Prescott, where Clyde became minister of the Methodist Church on Marina Street. In 1910, they homesteaded 160 acres in the Granite Dells area on which five generations of Demings would live.
Harriet was an active and model minister's wife, entertaining visiting church officials, hosting sewing groups, and teaching Bible study classes, in addition to raising their five children. Their ministry took them to Jerome, Kingman and Needles, California. But they returned to Prescott as often as they could for visits to their Granite Dells ranch.
In 1918, Clyde suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side and with some speech loss. Deciding to remain in the lower altitude of California, Clyde and Harriet lived with their daughter, Rowena, before returning to Prescott. Harriet lovingly cared for Clyde for the next four years of his physical and mental deterioration until his death November 9, 1922.
Harriet spent her remaining years living part-time in California with her daughter and part-time in Prescott. She was a resident of the Arizona Pioneers' Home when she died in May 17, 1958. Harriet was buried in Mountain View Cemetery beside her husband.
Donor: Hazel Clark Deming
Photo Located: PB-4, F-77-169, I-312
Updated: 11/17/2015, D. Sue Kissel
