Monday, December 1, 2025

FROM EVANSTON TO HOLLYWOOD - Philo Judson Beveridge

I will never forget my first trip to Hollywood, California.  It was in 1980 and my friend who lived out there told me to put together a list of all the places I wanted to see and he would make sure I saw them all.***  Of course, at the top of the list was Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery (now called Hollywood Forever) so I could pay my respects at the crypt of Rudolph Valentino.  After I visited his crypt I decided to take a look around the mausoleum - called the Cathedral Mausoleum.  I wandered around and saw the niche of Peter Lorre, the crypt of William Desmond Taylor, the crypt of Barbara LaMarr ("With God in the Joy and Beauty of Youth").  Then I saw a crypt that had a name I sort of recognized:  Philo Judson Beveridge.  

Philo Judson was a name I recognized for sure - he was a Methodist minister and one of the founders of Evanston, Illinois.  But who was Philo Judson Beveridge and what was he doing in a crypt in the Hollywood Cemetery?  As with many of the subjects I write about, he has an interesting story.  So let's trace Philo Judson Beveridge from Evanston, Illinois to Hollywood, California.

Philo Judson Beveridge was born December 1, 1851 in Cumberland County, Tennessee, to John Lourie Beveridge and Helen Mar Judson.  Philo's forbearers on both sides were distinguished - one side in politics and the other side in religion.   

Philo's father, John L. Beveridge (1824-1910), was born in Greenwich, New York.  After attending the Rock River Seminary in Mount Morris, Illinois, Beveridge moved south to Tennessee, where he taught school.  

Philo's mother Helen Mar Judson (1829-1909) was born in Albany, New York.  Her father, Philo Judson was a Methodist minister of renown and one of the founders of Evanston, Illinois.  Rev. Judson was called to Evanston, Illinois in 1852 as one of the agents for the newly created Northwestern University, at its founding a Methodist university. 

Helen Judson and John Beveridge were married January 20, 1848 at the Clark Street M.E. Church in Chicago where her father was the pastor.  The bride was eighteen years old and the groom was twenty-three.

After John and Helen's marriage they returned to Tennessee so that John Beveridge could resume his teaching career.  It was during this time in Tennessee that Philo (1851-1921) and his sister Alla (1849-1934) were born.  Beveridge studied law, was admitted to the bar, and established a legal career in Evanston, and Chicago, Illinois.  

Philo Judson Beveridge makes his first appearance in the 1860 US Census.  The enumerator found the Beveridge family living in the Township of Evanston, Illinois.  The family consisted of John L. Beveridge (35 years old), wife Helen M. (31), Ella A. (11), Philo J. (9) and Domestic Catherine Maloney (16).  John said he was a "Lawyer" and owned Real Estate valued at $3,500.00 ($137,000 in today's funds) and Personalty of $1,500.00 ($59,000 in today's funds).

Philo Beveridge entered Northwestern University as a freshman in 1864.  To be admitted as a freshman, a student needed to pass an examination and show a proficiency in the following studies:



If you were entering the "Scientific Course" you could skip the Greek.

Philo graduated from Northwestern in 1868.

The 1870 US Census finds Philo Beveridge living in Evanston, Illinois with his parents.  The Census Enumerator visited the Beveridge family on June 1, 1870 and the enumerator was "Philo J. Beveridge."  The family consisted of John L. Beveridge (46 years old), wife Helen (41) and son Philo J. (19).  John listed his occupation as "Lawyer." Helen was "Keeping House," and Philo was "Asst. Marshall," his title as a census enumerator.

John did not list any value for real estate owned; Helen listed $22,000.00 ($540,000 in today's funds) and Philo $10,000.00 ($257,000 in today's funds).  For Personalty, John listed $5,000.00 ($124,000 in today's funds), Helen $500.00 ($12,000 in today's funds) and Philo $300.00 ($7,400 in today's funds).

Alla Beveridge is not included because she married Samuel B. Raymond (1848-1915) in 1869.

Philo's father John L. Beveridge had a successful political career after serving as a brigadier general in the Civil War.  Beveridge was Sheriff of Cook County (1870), a member of the Illinois Senate (1871), the US House of Representatives (1872) and Lieutenant Governor (ten days in 1873).  When Illinois Governor Richard J. Oglesby resigned on January 23, 1873 to accept a seat in the US Senate, Beveridge became the 16th Governor of Illinois.  Upon assuming office, the governor appointed his son Philo to be his Private Secretary.

Philo Judson Beveridge married for the first time on December 18, 1872 in Bloomington, Illinois to Ella Morgan Rutzer (1850-1904).  This is from the Sioux City (IA) Journal from December 23, 1873:

The Sioux City (IA) Journal - 23 Dec 1873

The groom was twenty-one years old; the bride was twenty.

Ella Morgan Rutzer was born at Poughkeepsie, New York in 1852 to William H. Rutzer (1827-1883) and Amelia Ann Demott (1828-1902).  William Rutzer had various occupations through the years including running a livery stable, being affiliated with the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and selling patent medicines (Devine's Compound Pitch Lozenges: The remedy for colds, coughs, asthma, costiveness (constipation) and consumption!!!)

Ella had two sisters, one the distinguished actress Lillian Rutzer Seymour (????-????), and the other Fannie Rutzer (1853-????).  She also had a brother Edward M. Rutzer (1855-????).

Philo and Ella were blessed with three children:  Kuhne Beveridge/Mrs. Charles F. Coghlan/Mrs. William B. Branson (1874-1944) who was a noted sculptor, Richard Morgan Beveridge (1876-1876) and Ray Sunshine Beveridge/Mrs. Irving M. Seliger/Mrs. Hugo Jager (1878-????), the woman said to be one of the most beautiful in the country.

Philo Beveridge's grandfather, the Rev. Philo Judson died in Evanston, March 20, 1876 at the age of sixty-nine.  

Rev. Philo Judson

He left a substantial estate, and after the usual instructions and bequests to family he had a special message for his namesake:


$500 in 1876 is equivalent to $15,000 in today's funds.  Not a small amount for a man of twenty-five to inherit.

Philo and Ella's son, Richard Morgan Beveridge was born in Springfield, Illinois on March 1, 1876 and died at Evanston on July 30, 1876.  Here is the Death Announcement from the Daily Illinois State Register from August 1, 1876:

The cause of death was cholera infantum.  He was buried in the family plot at Rosehill Cemetery.

The 1880 US Census finds the Philo Beveridge family living with Philo's parents in Evanston, Illinois.  The family consisted of:  John S. Beveridge (55 years old), his wife Helen M. (51), son Philo J. (29), wife Ella R. (28), daughter Kuhne (5) and daughter Ray (3).  John Beveridge's occupation was "Loans and Real Estate", Philo's was "Sugar Broker," the wives were "Keeping House," and the babies were too young for anything.  

Philo Judson Beveridge filed for divorce in 1889 on the grounds of desertion.  When newspapers reported the details of the marriage and divorce, they said that Ella was only sixteen when she married Philo.  She was in fact, twenty.  Starting in about 1880, Ella's health was supposedly not good, so she packed up her two infant children and went to Europe.  Her failing health did not keep her from visiting Paris, Berlin, London and other capitals of the East.  She and her daughters visited the springs at Carlsbad and they spent some months at Vienna and Rome.  

Ella regained her health and made many friends among the leading members of society.  Philo Beveridge was not opposed to his wife's travels at first, but chose to stay in Illinois.  (This is sounding more and more like the plot of the movie Dodsworth.)  

It was reported that "differences of feeling grew up between them."  Mrs. Beveridge liked Germany but Mr. Beveridge could not abide it.  Moreover, he began to protest her meeting so often with the Baron Hermann von Wrede, whose family lived on their ancestral estate in Hanover.  Finally Philo Beveridge demanded his wife and children return to Illinois; Ella refused.  He then threatened to withhold her allowance but still she remained in Germany.

Neither party wanted the notoriety of a divorce played out in the media.  Philo Beveridge and his father were attending to their mining interests in Austin, Nevada - the family decided to file the divorce there to keep it as low key as possible.  Ella Beveridge temporarily relocated to Austin, and a Divorce was granted to Philo Beveridge in May of 1889 on the grounds of desertion.

In 1889 divorce was very much frowned upon.  When questioned by a reporter after the divorce was granted Ella Beveridge speaking of "her" Baron said "He is one of the noblest men who ever lived." It had been with some difficulty that she was induced to say anything about the matter.  She went on, "I saw that there must be a change in my life.  I told Governor Beveridge and his son so long ago.  I said what was true, that Philo's taste and mine were entirely incompatible.  We had practically severed our bonds anyway long ago, and I told them we would put a more definite end to it by the divorce." 

And so, life goes on.  Ella and "her Baron" returned to Germany and Philo moved to Los Angeles.

There was a little blurb in the Los Angeles (CA) Times from February 26, 1894.  Under the title "Hollywood Brevities" it said the following:

Mrs. Ida Wilcox has joined a party making a tour of Catalina, including Ex-Gov. and Mrs. Beveridge, Mrs. Updike, Miss Alice Judson, Philo J. Beveridge and Henry J. Bryan of Chicago, Misses Anna Woodhead and Lucie Hardman of Los Angeles.  

From the Southern California Section of the Los Angeles Times of March 11, 1894:

Lew Replogle and Philo J. Beveridge of Chicago took a jaunt up the canon on Wednesday with friends from Hollywood.

From the Marriage Licenses column of the Los Angeles (CA) Herald from March 27, 1894:

Philo J. Beveridge, aged 43, a native of Tennessee, and resident of Los Angeles, and Dea Ida Wilcox, aged 30, a native of Ohio and resident of Holleywood (sic).

Daeida Hartell Wilcox

Philo Judson Beveridge and Daeida Hartell Wilcox were married in Hollywood on March 27, 1894.  The groom was forty-three; the bride was thirty.  Here is their Affidavit for a Marriage License:



Daeida Hartell (some sources say "Hartle") was born July 22, 1862 in Hicksville, Ohio to John Emerson Hartell (1830-1873) and Amelia Jane Ryan (1837-1930).  John Hartell was a farmer by trade.  Daeida had three sisters:  Ella (1856-1946), Gertrude (1858-1860) and Sylvia Madge (1868-1970).

Daeida attended private school in Hicksville and later public school in Canton, Ohio. She married prohibitionist Harvey Henderson Wilcox (1832-1891) December 6, 1882 in Topeka, Kansas. 

Harvey Henderson Wilcox

Harvey Wilcox had moved from his parents' farm in Michigan to Kansas to pursue a career in real estate.  In October 1883 it was reported that "Harvey Wilcox of Topeka, Kansas" was back in Ohio and Michigan visiting relatives and friends. This was probably the last time most of his relatives back East saw him and the trip was probably made in anticipation of his permanent move to California.  During this trip he met Daeida Hartell and she followed him back to Topeka, Kansas in anticipation of their wedding.

In 1885 (some sources sat the Summer of 1884), Daeida and Harvey moved to Los Angeles where Harvey established himself in partnership with A.S. Robbins in the real estate and loan business.

Becoming familiar with the value of Los Angeles real estate, in 1886 Harvey Wilcox purchased a 200 acre ranch of apricot and fig groves, outside of Los Angeles at the foot of what became known as the Hollywood Hills.

Daeida and Harvey had one child, a son Harry Wilcox, born February 23, 1885 and died September 14, 1886.  

Harry H. Wilcox

Here is his Death Notice from the Los Angeles (CA) Herald from September 14, 1886:


and here are the particulars about his funeral from the same newspaper on September 16, 1886:


Her was buried at Rosedale Cemetery (now Angelus Rosedale) in Los Angeles in the plot his grandmother owned in Section I, Lot 37.

There are many different versions of the story about how Hollywood got its name.  Everyone agrees that the name was picked by Daeida Wilcox but the agreement stops there.  Here are several of the most popular versions of the story:

A few months after they acquired their new ranch, Daeida visited family and friends in her hometown of Hicksville (Ohio). Daeida learned of the name Hollywood from Ivar Weid, her neighbor in Holly Canyon (now Lake Hollywood) and a prominent L.A. investor.

or

In Nancy Dale’s 1986 epic tome of Southern California native plants, "Flowering Plants," she has this to say about California Holly, or, if you’re a botanist, Heteromeles arbutifolia:

“I thought that masses of this native shrub growing on the hills above Hollywood gave the community its name.”

or

This idea of floral origins for Hollywood is romantic. It’s also not true. Hollywood got its name for a much more mundane reason: someone wealthy liked the sound of it.

Daeida Wilcox, who donated land to help in the development of Hollywood, learned of the name Hollywood from an acquaintance who owned an estate by that name in Illinois.   Wilcox is quoted as saying, "I chose the name Hollywood simply because it sounds nice and because I'm superstitious and holly brings good luck." She recommended the same name to her husband, Harvey H. Wilcox, who had purchased 120 acres on February 1, 1887. It was not until August 1887 that Wilcox decided to use that name and filed with the Los Angeles County Recorder's office on a deed and parcel map of the property.

The Wilcox Map of Hollywood













In 1887, Daeida and her husband began to lay out the new town, with a subdivision map filed for "Hollywood, California" with the Los Angeles County Recorder's office.  H. H. Wilcox was gaining quite a reputation as realtor who sold and developed land.  Here is one of his ads from the Los Angeles Times of February 18, 1891 trying to sell lots in "very desirable foothill lands...in the frostless belt at Hollywood":


Unfortunately Wilcox died before he developed anything. 

Harvey Wilcox died on March 19, 1891. Here is his Death Notice from the Los Angeles Times of March 22, 1891:


and his obituary from the Los Angeles Evening Express of March 20, 1891:


Here is an article from the Los Angeles Evening Express of March 23, 1891 recounting the funeral:


H. H. Wilcox was interred "in the Wilcox Vault at Rosedale Cemetery" in Section I, Lot 37.

The holographic will of H. H. Wilcox was submitted for probate March 30, 1891.  

The Los Angeles (CA) Daily Journal - 30 Mar 1891

$10,000 in 1891 would be worth about $356,000 in today's funds.  However this does not take into account the value of the land in Hollywood.  The land originally purchased at $150 an acre, was sold for $1,000 a lot.  H. H. Wilcox left his widow a very wealthy woman.


Trenton (NJ) Evening Times - 28 Mar 1894


I don't know where they got the title "General" Beveridge for Philo.  Philo's father John Beveridge had actually been a brigadier general in the Civil War, so he would have been "General" Beveridge, but he was not the one who married Daeida Wilcox.

Philo and Daeida Beveridge were blessed with four children: Marian Beveridge/Mrs. Wilbur W. Campbell/Mrs. Robert J. Pringle (1895-1951), Daeida Beveridge (1896-1900), Phyllis Beveridge/Mrs. Claire Brunson (1898-1972), and Philo Beveridge (1906-1906)

Their second daughter, Daeida Beveridge died January 18, 1900.  Here is the obituary from the Los Angeles (CA) Times from January 21, 1900:



She was buried in the family vault in Rosedale Cemetery, Section I, Lot 37.

Philo J. Beveridge was appointed Postmaster of Hollywood, California on February 23, 1900.

Daeida's first husband, H. H. Wilcox was mainly involved in selling real estate and as a  land developer.  Daeida's second husband, P.J. Beveridge branched out into many different businesses.  In May of 1900, he was granted the electric franchise to run a trolley loop to Hollywood.  Here is the announcement from the Los Angeles (CA) Times from May 09, 1900:


The 1900 US Census from June, 1900 shows the Beveridge family living in Cahuenga Township, Los Angeles, California.  The family consisted of:  Philo J. (49 years old), wife Daeida (35), daughters Marian (5) and Phyllis (1 5/12), mother-in-law Amelia Hartell (62) and Servant Anna Mayer (20).  Philo and Daeida said they had been married for 6 years; Daeida said she had given birth to four children, two of whom were still alive in 1900.  Philo listed his occupation as "Farmer."  Philo said they owned the farm where they were living, and they owned it free and clear.

In July of 1900 is was announced that Philo J. Beveridge was appointed Vice President of the Puente Oil Company.

Philo and Daeida maintained their positions as members of Los Angeles society.  In February of 1901 they hosted an elaborate banquet at the Van Nuys Hotel for visiting relatives:

Los Angeles Times - 26 Feb 1901

As members of society, their every move was followed.  Here is a writeup about their four month camping trip to Yosemite in April of 1901:

Los Angeles Evening Post-Record 23 Apr 1901

The Beveridges needed money to subsidize their many ventures, so slowly but surely Philo and Daeida began to sell off lots in Hollywood platted by H. H. Wilcox.

Here is one such sale reported on March 29, 1902:

Los Angeles Evening Express - 29 Mar 1902

 

and another reported June 14, 1902:

The Los Angeles Times - 14 Jun 1902




A five month trip to China and Japan with Philo's parents in 1902:

The Los Angeles Times - 25 Nov 1902







As a major land holder in Hollywood. Philo Beveridge was very much involved in the question of annexation of Hollywood to Los Angeles:

The Los Angeles Times - November 14, 1903

Beveridge said that while he had originally been in favor of annexation, after visiting some towns that had been annexed was now opposed to it.

Philo Beveridge was also involved in selecting a new site for the Hollywood High School:

Los Angeles Times - 13 Mar 1904

Daeida Beveridge must have enjoyed her trip to Japan in 1902 because it was announced in June of 1904 that she would be returning to Japan for three months.

In late 1904 Philo Beveridge was involved in the question of whether of not Hollywood should have a social club, and whether or not it should be for men only:

Los Angeles Times - 21 Sep 1904

Since it had originally been platted in 1886, Daeida Beveridge had personally donated many lots in Hollywood for purposes she considered important.  In October of 1904 it was announced that she would donate a lot for a City Hall for Hollywood:

Los Angeles Times - 06 Oct 1904

Philo Beveridge resigned as Hollywood Postmaster in March of 1905.

In June of 1905, two hundred Hollywood business and professional men gathered to celebrate the 50th birthday of world famous artist and Hollywood resident Paul DeLongpre.  

Paul DeLongpre

Philo Beveridge was the Master of Ceremonies:

Los Angeles Times - 08 Jun 1905

In early 1906 Philo and Daeda left for another trip to Japan via San Francisco.  Philo returned to Hollywood in December of 1906 but Daeida decided to remain in Japan a while longer.

While in Japan, Daeida Beveridge gave birth to another child - a son they named Philo Beveridge.  He was born June 19, 1906 in Yokohama, Japan.  Unfortunately he died shortly after birth.  His parents had young Philo's body preserved so they could bring him back to Hollywood for burial. 

Here is a photograph of Philo Beveridge taken when he was in Japan:


Few photos exist today of Philo Beveridge.  He refused to sit for a cabinet photograph.  Kodak snapshots were the only photos of him that remained after his death.  

In January of 1907 Philo Beveridge was elected a Director of the Hollywood Board of Trade.  

In April of 1907 Philo and Daeida hosted a large reception to celebrate Daeida's return to Hollywood.

The Los Angeles Times - 14 Apr 1907

There were 700 guests at their party:

The Los Angeles Times - 23 Apr 1907

In May of 1907. Philo and Daeida moved into the new home they had built on the corner of Prospect and Wilcox avenues.  They officially opened the season at the end of September with 1500 guests anxious to see their new home:

The Los Angeles Times - 27 Oct 1907

In December of 1907 Philo Beveridge was accused of a heinous crime:  serving liquor to his guests at a party he gave at the Hollywood Hotel.  

The Los Angeles Times - 03 December 1907

Not only did Philo spend his youth in dry (until 1973) Evanston, Illinois, Daeda and her husband H.H. Wilcox pledged at its founding that no alcohol would be allowed in Hollywood.  Philo Beveridge was reported to the authorities by five of the guests he was hosting.  He is lucky he wasn't tarred and feathered in the public square for such a grievous offense.

Officially, the law forbade the serving of intoxicating beverages except in private residences.  At the party he hosted at the Hollywood Hotel, three bottles of claret were uncorked and even the mayor of Hollywood partook (although he repented the next day and swore out the warrant for Beveridge and Stanley Anderson, the proprietor of the Hollywood Hotel).

The trial was finally held in January of 1908.  After deliberating for fifteen minutes, the jury acquitted Beveridge.  When the verdict was announced, the spectators broke out in rousing cheers.  H.H. Wilcox must have been spinning in his grave.

The Los Angeles Times - 03 Jan 1908


The Prohibition-Anti Beveridge forces got their revenge when they voted Philo Beveridge out as a board member of the Hollywood Board of Trade on January 22, 1908.

Philo Beveridge spent most of 1908 at various speaking engagements around Southern California where he spoke on How Good Roads Develop Commerce, and also touting the economic advantages of encouraging California as a tourist destination.

On August 17, 1908, Philo and Daeida hosted a reception to introduce Philo's daughter, the actress Miss Ray Beveridge.  She was with the Stone Company that would be performing at the Auditorium later in the month:

The Los Angeles Herald - 19 Aug 1908

The Los Angeles Times - 30 Aug 1908


In April of 1909 Philo and Daeida with daughter Phyllis took a trip to Tahiti.

On May 02, 1909 the Los Angeles Herald Sunday Magazine featured the Beveridge's new home at Prospect and Wilcox Avenues in a section they called "In Hollywood the Beautiful":

Los Angeles Herald - 02 May 1909














Here is another photograph of the house:



 

After retiring from public life, Philo's parents Former Illinois Governor John L. Beveridge and his wife, Helen Judson Beveridge joined Philo in Hollywood where John Beveridge was involved in various civic affairs including being one of the founders of the Hollywood Public Library.  Philo's mother Helen died in Hollywood on May 08, 1909.  She was eighty years old.

Plans were made to return her body to Chicago for burial in the family plot in Rosehill Cemetery, but her globe-trotting son was in "the South Seas" when she died.  Her funeral was postponed until  May 20, 1909 upon Philo's return:

The Los Angeles Times - 20 May 1909

On June 1, 1909 Philo and his father accompanied his mother's body back to Chicago where it was buried at Rosehill Cemetery:


 

Philo spent the remainder of 1909 working on various projects;

1.  He was still working on the "Good Roads" campaign and worked on raising money for that purpose.

2.  Getting the assessed value of his house reduced.  State assessors had descended on the Los Angeles area and raised the assessed value of several mansions in the area including Philo and Daeida's:

The San Francisco (CA) Call Bulletin - 29 Aug 1909

An increase in the assessed valuation would raise the real estate taxes owed by a substantial amount.

3.  The issue of Annexation of Hollywood to Los Angeles.  It was now called "Consolidation" and Philo now fully supported it.

On January 25, 1910 Hollywood was officially annexed/consolidated by Los Angeles.

The San Francisco (CA) Chronicle - 26 Jan 1910

Annexation to Los Angeles allowed residents of Hollywood access to a better water system and a better sewer system, among other reasons.  After the annexation Prospect Avenue became Hollywood Boulevard, so the Beveridge's address became 131 W. Hollywood Boulevard.

Philo Beveridge's father, Former Illinois Governor John Beveridge died at his home on Ivar Avenue in Hollywood on May 3, 1910, almost one year to the day from Philo's mother's death.  Luckily Philo was in the country when John Beveridge succumbed.

The Warren (IL) Sentinel Leader - 06 May 1910

After a short service in Hollywood, his body was shipped to Chicago by train for burial next to his wife at Rosehill, Section F, Lot 64:



On June 29, 1911 Philo and Daeida's dear friend Paul De Longpre died in Hollywood.  The funeral was held July 1, 1911 and Philo was one of the pallbearers:

The Los Angeles Times - 01 Jul 1911

Paul de Longpre was cremated at the Los Angeles Crematory (now the Chapel Of The Pines Crematory).  The final disposition of his cremains is unknown.

In late 1911 Philo and Daeida became involved in the suffrage movement, specifically the right of women to vote.  They also became involved in the election for mayor of Los Angeles.  Here is a photo of the Citizens Committee in favor of the incumbent, George Alexander, who was in favor of the right to vote for women.  Philo can be seen under the two rows of *****:


Mayor Alexander was re-elected after a runoff election on December 5, 1911.  It was said the the Hollywood votes put Alexander "over the top."

The Beveridges were outspoken supporters for the re-election of President William Howard Taft who was defeated by Woodrow Wilson.

In 1904 Daeida Beveridge had donated a lot to Hollywood with the requirement that it be used for a City Hall.  After annexation there was no need for a separate City Hall so instead the building was approved in 1912 for use as a combination police station and firehouse with committee meeting space on the second floor.  

Philo Beveridge through his wife Daeida was still a major landholder in Hollywood.  In February of 1913 the Beveridges sold off a large part of their Hollywood holdings in what had become downtown Hollywood for $600,000 ($19.6 million in today's funds):

The Los Angeles Times - 19 Feb 1913

In early March, 1913 Philo and Daeida decided to take a vacation to Panama for three weeks.  Daeida's mother would remain behind to watch over their two daughters:

The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News - 28 Feb 1913

In April of 1913 Philo and Daeida were pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Marian Beveridge to Mr. Wilbur Watkins Campbell.  The newspapers said "Young Campbell is well known in Los Angeles and comes from a distinguished southern family.  His father is a retired capitalist."

The newspapers were full of all the minute details about the upcoming nuptials on an almost daily basis:

The Los Angeles Evening Express - 03 May 1913

The Los Angeles Evening Express - 14 May 1913

The wedding finally took place on June 19, 1913:

The Los Angeles Evening Express - 19 Jun 1913

After all the wedding preparations, Philo and Daeida were ready for a rest.  They decided to take a five month trip to the Orient - Japan, China and the Philippines:

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News - 19 Sep 1913

They even made arrangements for their friends the Woodheads to house-sit.

The Beveridges returned to Hollywood in May of 1914:

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News - 15 May 1914

In addition to all his other activities, Philo Beveridge was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Republican Central Committee of Los Angeles:

The Los Angeles Times - 24 May 1914

Daeida Beveridge continued to entertain members of the Monday Card Club in Hollywood:

The Los Angeles Times - 14 Jul 1914

The Los Angeles Evening Express on August 8, 1914 announced the sad news of the death of Daeida Beveridge:

The Los Angeles Evening Express - 08 Aug 1914

She actually died at Good Samaritan Hospital, not her home as reported.  The cause of death was cancer of the liver and stomach.  Here is her Death Certificate:

Here is her Death Notice:

The Los Angeles Times - 09 Aug 1914






Here is an account of her funeral:

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News - 14 Aug 1914 

She was buried in the Wilcox Vault at Rosedale Cemetery:


A Resolution from the Hollywood Board of Trade:

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News - 21 Aug 1914

After his wife's death, Philo Beveridge kept a fairly low profile.  He was still involved in Republican political circles but his globe-trotting days were over.

In April of 1915 it was announced that Philo Beveridge would be building a new post office for Hollywood:

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News - 30 Apr 1915

Even after all his years in Hollywood, Philo Beveridge was still leading the fight for good roads (but this time as the largest taxpayer in the area):

The Times Standard - 20 Jul 1916

After Daeida's death, newspapers began referring to Philo Beveridge as "retired capitalist."

Even after his retirement, Philo continued to be involved in real estate and as Hollywood subdivided, he sold off his land and holdings as well as helping to get the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad started. He also served as director of the Hollywood National Bank and the Citizens Bank of Hollywood; was president of the Connell Company and the Auto Funding Company of America.

In June of 1917, Philo Beveridge donated an ambulance in Daeida's memory to the Red Cross.

Also in June of 1917, Philo joined noted industrialist C. E. Toberman in pledging that no billboards would be allowed on any property they owned.

Unlike the wedding of her sister Marian in 1913, the wedding of Phyllis Beveridge in December of 1917 was a quiet "close friends and family" affair:

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News - 14 Dec 1917

In March of 1918, Phyllis' sister and Philo's other daughter Marian filed for divorce from her husband Wilbur W. Campbell:

Los Angeles Evening Express - 01 Mar 1918

The grounds for divorce were not revealed at that time, but for some time Wilbur Campbell had been seen in the Hollywood area with women other than his wife.  

The public was clamoring for all the dirty details about the Beveridge/Campbell divorce and the Los Angeles Times was glad to oblige:

The Los Angeles Times - 08 Jun 1918

Philo spent most of 1918 working as the Chairman of the Hayes for Governor campaign.  J.O. Hayes was running for the Republican nomination against the sitting governor, William Stephens.  On Election Day, Hayes came in third with 6% of the vote.

On April 3, 1919 it was announced that a new nine story hotel would be built on the site of Philo and Daeida's home, 6427 W. Hollywood Boulevard.  Philo also reported that he had been approached about selling his home:

The Los Angeles Times - 03 Apr 1919 

This hotel development did not come to pass.  The home was demolished by Philo's two daughters in 1925.  The house was eventually replaced by the Warner Brothers Theater Building in Hollywood.

Philo continued to sell off land in Hollywood he inherited from his wife.  Late in 1919 it was announced that he had sold seven acres to the Famous Players-Lasky studio.

Philo Beveridge was still one of the largest landowners in Hollywood.  In 1920 he became involved in the controversy concerning the establishment of a centrally located park in Hollywood.  Philo, and the other major landowners were opposed to the idea of the park because nobody knew how much it would cost and they felt they were already being taxed at a high enough rate without adding a special assessment for a park.  One opponent said his opposition was to protect the poor people in Hollywood to which land owner Malcolm C. Nason replied, "there are no poor people in Hollywood."

Philo Judson Beveridge died suddenly May 1, 1921.  He was sixty-nine years old.  

The early editions of the Los Angeles Times on May 2, 1921 carried the following notice:

Here is his Death Certificate:


The Cause of Death was Myocarditis, with kidney problems as well.  Of course his death made all the newspapers.  Here is his Death Notice:

The Los Angeles Times - 02 May 1921







The announcement to his fellow Masons:

The Los Angeles Times - 02 May 1921


He was interred in the Wilcox Family Vault at Rosedale Cemetery.  Here is his Interment Card:


Here are more details about Philo and his death:


The Los Angeles Times - 02 May 1921

His funeral was planned for May 4, 1921:

The Los Angeles Evening Express - 03 May 1921

The Los Angeles Evening Express - 02 May 1921

The Los Angeles Times - 04 May 1921



Philo Judson Beveridge - From Evanston, Illinois to Hollywood, California.  May he rest in peace.






THE REST OF THE STORY

Ella Morgan Rutzer Beveridge von Wrede (1852-1904) -  Philo's first wife Ella Morgan Rutzer married "her Baron" Baron Hermann von Wrede on May 18, 1889 in San Francisco, shortly after her divorce from Philo was finalized.  It was an empty title for the Baroness von Wrede.  When the Baron married her, he not only had to renounce his Catholic faith (for marrying a divorcee), but also any claim he had to the family's fortune (he was not the eldest son).  To make ends meet, Ella became a seamstress, and ultimately a clerk in a hotel.  The Baroness von Wrede died in Cologne, Germany on May 8, 1904.  Her burial site is unknown.

Kuhne Beveridge Branson (1874-1944) - Kuhne Beveridge, the eldest of Philo's children was a sculptress.  She started her professional career at the age of fifteen.  She studied under noted sculptors William O'Donovan in New York and Rodin in Paris.  She caused quite a scandal in 1893 when she eloped with actor Charles Coghlan.  Not surprisingly, they were divorced one year later when Kuhne discovered that Coghlan had returned to his common-law first wife.  In 1903 Kuhne married William B. Branson.   Her sculptures were exhibited all over the world and in 1930 she was chosen for the Illinois Women's Hall of Fame.  She ultimately settled in Germany, where she died of a stroke in 1944.  She was buried in Kommunalfriedhof "Hartebusch" Waldenburg, Germany (now Poland).

Kuhne Beveridge


Ray Sunshine Beveridge (1878-????) - Ray Beveridge was an actress.  In 1892 she appeared as a blacksmith at the California Pavilion in the World's Fair in Chicago.  In 1912 she married Irving Madison Seliger.  The marriage was annulled in 1913 due to non-consummation.  In 1915 the United States would not renew her passport due to reports that she was a secret courier for the German government.  When she got her annulment she was calling herself "Ray Ilse Louise Ellen von Wrede Beveridge."  She also called herself
"Baroness Ray von Wrede."  During the first World War she worked extensively for the Red Cross in Germany.  On August 20, 1921 she married Capt. Hugo Jager, a "government official and veteran of the World War" in Bad Kissingen, Bavaria.  The romance began in March of 1921 when Ray Beveridge, annoyed by French secret service agents, fled into the Tyrolese Alps with Jager and a German editor, where they were stormbound for six days in a little mountain cabin.  T
he marriage created a conflict because Jager had been divorced.  Ray left Jager in 1924 "for the good of his soul." and returned to the stage.  When her sister Kuhne died in 1944 Ray was living in Bad Salzbrunn, Silesia, Germany and going under the name "Kay Beveridge."  In 1944 Ray would have been 66 years old.  I was not able to find any additional information about her after 1944.  Her date of death, place of death, and final resting place are unknown.

Ray Sunshine Beveridge


Marian Beveridge (1895-1951) - In 1913 Marian married Wilbur Watkins Campbell (1889-1951) in Hollywood.  He was a musician and composer.  They had two sons:  Philo Beveridge Campbell (1915-1946) and Robert Larry Beveridge Campbell (1917-1992).  Marian and Wilbur were divorced in 1918.  Marian Beveridge married again in June of 1921 to Robert J. Pringle (1895-1951).  Pringle was a very successful Broker.  Marian Beveridge was living in Beverly Hills when she died in 1951.  She was 56 years old.  She is interred in the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Forever.



Phyllis Beveridge (1898-1972) - In 1917 Phyllis married Clair Benton Brunson (1894-1956) in Hollywood.  Brunson was a Rancher and was involved in Real Estate.  He was also a champion polo player.  They had two children:  David Brunson (1924-2012) and Barbara Brunson/Mrs. William R. Quinn (1926-2014).  Phyllis engaged in Trans-Pacific Yacht Races in her own yacht, and  also flew her own airplane.  She died April 1, 1972 at the age of 73.  Phyllis is interred in the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Forever.  




On November 13, 1922, the following people were disinterred from Section I, Lot 37 of Rosedale Cemetery and reinterred in the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Memorial Cemetery:


H. H. Wilcox



Harry Wilcox





Daeida Wilcox Beveridge and Philo Beveridge



Philo Judson Beveridge



Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer "AJ"

Daeida's first husband, H. H. Wilcox is interred below her crypt; her second husband, Philo J. Beveridge is interred to her left.



***My list of places in Hollywood I wanted to see on my first visit in 1980:

Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery

Grauman's Chinese Theater

Musso & Frank's Restaurant

Forest Lawn Memorial Park

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills




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