Harriet was born at Fairfield, Ohio. She was rebaptized in West Jordan Ward on 17 May 1855 and may be the Harriet "Courteney" who was living in the Great Salt Lake City 18th Ward at the time of the 1856 Territorial Census.
At the time of the 1850 federal census she may have been living in the household of John and Delila Bentz of Royalton, Fairfield, Ohio.