Background
Philander Deming was born on February 6, 1829 in Carlisle, Schoharie County, New York, United States. He was the third son of Reverend Rufus Romeo Deming, a minister in Champlain Presbytery, and Julia Ann, daughter of Norman Porter, M. D. , of Oneida County. He was descended from Thomas Deming, one of the early settlers of Wethersfield. The Deming family moved from one charge to another; they lived for a time in Huntingdon, Quebec. From there they moved to Burke, Franklin County, New York, United States.