Ida Sarah (Densmore) Durbin was born on July 31, 1859, in Wisconsin, the daughter of Elizabeth (Davis) of Morgan County, Ohio, and Joel Henry Densmore of Chelsea, Vermont. Ida came to Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, from Golden City, Jefferson County, Colorado with her parents and siblings in 1875. Her brothers and sisters were Etta S., wife of James Maxwell; Eva Belle, wife of Joseph E. Nesbit; Nellie Lulu, wife of John Boone Crosby; Viola, wife of Joseph Andrew Gilmore; Edwin J., husband of Nancy Bell Lacy; Willis; and Paul Henry, husband of Emma Wright.

In Prescott, she met her future husband, William W. Durbin, who was born in Ohio; however, his family also lived in Adams County, Illinois, and several Midwestern states during his childhood. The Durbin family came to Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, in the summer of 1875. William lived for a time and worked at the Fort Whipple barracks. He next purchased a lot at 136 N. McCormick Street from Judge Henry Fleury in 1875. He probably built the house on the lot as his occupation was that of carpenter/builder. William and Ida were married in Prescott on January 2, 1881.

Ida had several children in a very short time: Jessie Grace Powers, born November 15, 1881; Florence B. Anderson Kennedy, born February 26, 1883; Iva D. Ranney, born September 28, 1884; Francis J., born February 16, 1887; Helen Ann Williams Reynolds, born March 30, 1888; Alice Elaine White Stewart, born July 2, 1890; Elmer Henry, born May 16, 1893; and Mattie Elizabeth Scott, born June 30, 1894 and died May 12, 1985.  The two boys died in infancy, and the six beautiful girls grew to adulthood in Prescott. Three of the daughters, Jessie, Alice and Mattie, lived in Yavapai County virtually their entire lives. Ida represented many women of the time as she pursued her role as a devoted wife and mother of a large family.

Ida died on May 5, 1900, from complications of lung and kidney ailments and is buried in Citizens Cemetery in Prescott.

Donor: Patricia Atchison, great-granddaughter, April 2003 & Dennis J. Lessard, June 2015
Photo Located:  Benjamin Powers Family Collection
Updated: 10/20/2015, N. Freer