RUSSELL, LILLIAN 12/04/1861 – 06/06/1922

RUSSELL, LEONARD, MOORE, BARHAM, SOLOMON, CHATTERTON, CALVIT, MARTIN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/13/2011 at 16:36:36

Clinton’s Favorite Daughter Dies
The Clinton Advertiser; Tuesday, June 6, 1922, P. 1
LILLIAN RUSSELL, STAGE BEAUTY IS DEAD; THIS CITY HER BIRTHPLACE
(United Press Leased Wire)
Pittsburgh, Pa. Lillian Russell is dead.
Lillian Russell, who first made the beauty of American women internationally famous, was born, as Helen (Nellie) Louise Leonard, in Clinton, Iowa, December 4, 1861. She was the daughter of Charles E. Leonard, newspaper proprietor. She was educated at the Sacred Heart Convent in Chicago and there began the study of music in 1877, making her first appearance on the stage as an amateur Christmas, 1877, in “Time Tries All”.
The former stage beauty succumbed early today to a complication of diseases believed the result of a fall on board ship while returning from Europe where she studied immigration conditions for President Harding.
The end came at 2:20 a. m., after an illness of ten days. At her bedside was her fourth husband, Alexander H. Moore, Pittsburgh publisher, a daughter by a former marriage, Mrs. Dorothy Russell Calvit, and a niece, Mildred A. Martin.
The funeral will be held Thursday.
Marriage Ventures.
Miss Russell was for years the most frequently reported engaged celebrity in the public eye and the first of her four marriage ventures took place at this time. Her first husband was Harry Barham, an orchestra director. They were later divorced and she then went to England and in May 1884, married Edward Solomon. After living together two years the appearance of prior Mrs. Solomon caused their separation and the actress divorced him in 1893.
The following year she married John Chatterton, who as Sig. Peruguini, was her leading tenor in “The Princess Nicotine.” They were forced to marry in Hoboken to escape the New York law, under which her divorce from Solomon had not yet become absolute. After a few months of infelicity they separated and were divorced in 1898. She is said to have received more than a thousand proposals of marriage. Miss Russell withstood all assaults and successfully steered a single course until she married Alexander P. Moore, Pittsburgh publisher, in June, 1912. Since then, except for one vaudeville venture during the war, Miss Russell has remained in private life.
Tours Europe.
She made an inspection of immigration conditions in Europe this year and returned here last March, strongly recommending more stringent regulations.
As a regularly enlisted top sergeant of marines, she performed valuable recruiting service during the war, several hundred enlistments in the navy and marine corps being ascribed to her efforts.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p. m. Thursday at Trinity Episcopal church. Interment will be at the family vault at Allegheny cemetery.
Advice To Girls.
New York, June 6. Lillian Russell’s advice to ambitious girls was brief:
“If you can resist the stage – stay home.
“If you can’t – work constantly; live like an anchorite; exercise and practice patience.”

LILLIAN RUSSELL BURIED TODAY
The Clinton Advertiser; Thursday, June 8, 1922
Pittsburgh, Pa., June 8. Thousands of spectators lined the route of Lillian Russell’s funeral here today, paying their last tribute at the catafalque of fair Lillian.
The procession was led by a detachment of U. S. Marines, of which she was a “non-com” on recruiting duty during the war. Stalwart marines accompanied the casket as pallbearers, and as it was laid in Allegheny Cemetery, a firing squad of legion veterans fired three volleys.
The casket bore a solitary wreath, the gift of President and Mrs. Harding. Floral tributes from notables throughout the world filled the home.
Notables of the stage and persons from all walks of life packed Trinity church and heard Dr. Edward S. Travers, who officiated at the services, dwell on Miss Russell’s successes on the stage, and in the world, and the exemplary conduct of her private life.
Secretary of Labor James D. Davis was an honorary pallbearer. Others were Senator Hiram Johnson, Congressman Stephen Porter, Wm. A. McGee, mayor of Pittsburgh, and Howard Chandler Christy.
Pittsburgh, Pa., June 8. Friends gazed for the last time today upon the features of Lillian Russell, still beautiful in death.
The famous actress, who died early Tuesday, was to be buried this afternoon.