Alice Elaine (Durbin) White Stewart, daughter of William Waters and Ida Sarah (Densmore) Durbin, was born on July 2, 1890, in Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory. Her mother passed away in 1900. She and her five sisters grew up in the house that her father built on McCormick Street, and they attended school in Prescott. Her father was a carpenter at Fort Whipple.
After high school, Alice went to work for the New Consolidated Telephone & Telegraph & Electric Company of Prescott and became their chief operator. On October 9, 1912, she married James Thomas White. The couple had one son, Jim, born on May 28, 1916. They were divorced on June 14, 1921.
On August 25, 1921, Alice married Ben Stewart, a cattleman and owner of the T Anchor and Double T ranches east of Mayer, Arizona. The couple had three children who were born in Prescott: John “Jack” William, born June 25, 1922; Helen Francis, born July 13, 1923; and Charles Bradley “Brad,” born September 28, 1926.
Alice was an original member of the Yavapai Cowbelles, active in Mayer community affairs and with the Girl Scouts. She also served on the Mayer School Board. The schoolteacher lived with the Stewart family for a number of years, which was the custom in those days. During the high school years, she and the children lived in Tempe where the children attended school.
Alice lived most of her life in Yavapai County and all her life in Arizona. She shared with her children her memories of early Prescott and life on the ranch. She told stories about riding horseback over Mingus Mountain to attend social activities in Jerome.
In 1956, when Ben’s health began to decline, the couple left the ranch and moved to Tempe, Arizona. They lived there until Ben died on July 5, 1961. Alice continued to live in the Valley. She died on June 20, 1976, and was buried in Twin Buttes Cemetery in Tempe, Arizona.
Alice’s mother Ida Sarah (Densmore) Durbin and her sister Jessie Grace (Durbin) Powers are also commemorated in the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden.
Donor: Margaret Stewart, daughter-in-law, November 2003
Photo Located: PB-149, F-1, I-2 - Perry Collection
Updated: 6/1/2015, Gretchen Hough Eastman
