Peter Youree
Encyclopedia
Peter Youree was an American business
man and banker from Shreveport
, Louisiana
, who in 1910 built his city's first skyscraper
, the ten-story Commercial National Bank Building. He also financed the construction of his massive Youree Hotel — later called the Washington Youree Hotel — in downtown Shreveport. He was president of the Louisiana Bankers Association from 1908-1909.
, to P. E. Youree and the former M. M. Zimmerman. He was locally educated and received mercantile training in his father's store. He served with Missouri Confederate
forces during the American Civil War
and was wounded at Shiloh
, a bloody battle fought near the Tennessee River
in southern Tennessee
. He rose to the rank of captain of Slayback's Missouri Rifles and surrendered his company at Shreveport.
He decided to settle in Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish, and became a mercantile clerk. He opened a mercantile and real estate business. For a time he owned the Shreveport Street Railway and was president of the Shreveport Waterworks Company. In 1888, he was elected president of the Merchants and Farmers Bank, and in 1891, he became president of the Commercial National Bank, a position which he held until his death. Youree's former bank became a part of AmSouth Bancorporation
of Birmingham, Alabama
which has now merged with Regions Financial Corp. also of Birmingham. At the time of his passing, Youree's wealth was estimated at $2 million.
On June 24, 1870, he married the former Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Scott of Scottsville
in Harrison County, Texas
, east of Marshall
and west of Shreveport. She was the daughter of Colonel W. T. Scott, a member of the Texas State Senate, whose family founded Scottsville. They had a son, William Scott Youree (1872–1904), and a daughter, Susie Rose Youree Lloyd (1881–1974).
Youree was also active in local politics. A Democrat
, he was a member from 1884 to 1900 of the Caddo Parish Police Jury (renamed the Caddo Parish Commission), some of that tenure as the police jury president. His colleagues included for a time future Mayor Andrew Querbes
and later State Representative
Perry P. Keith.
Youree was a member of the First Methodist Church of Shreveport. His home on Fairfield Avenue called "Youreeka" was a Shreveport showplace for many years. He is not interred in Shreveport but at the Scottsville/Youree Cemetery in Scottsville, Texas. The cemetery is known for its replica of the acclaimed "Weeping Angel" or "Angel of Grief
" statue, originally built to honor the grave of son William Scott Youree, who was killed in Monterrey, Mexico
.
Captain Youree was a member of the General Leroy Stafford Camp #3, United Confederate Veterans in Shreveport. The Confederate monument at Greenwood Cemetery on Stoner Avenue was erected by Youree in honor of his comrades who are interred there. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Youree, was a longtime president of the Shreveport Chapter #237, United Daughters of the Confederacy
. A chapter of the Children of the Confederacy in her honor.
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man and banker from Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who in 1910 built his city's first skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
, the ten-story Commercial National Bank Building. He also financed the construction of his massive Youree Hotel — later called the Washington Youree Hotel — in downtown Shreveport. He was president of the Louisiana Bankers Association from 1908-1909.
Biography
Youree was born in Lafayette County in north central MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, to P. E. Youree and the former M. M. Zimmerman. He was locally educated and received mercantile training in his father's store. He served with Missouri Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
forces during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and was wounded at Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, a bloody battle fought near the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
in southern Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. He rose to the rank of captain of Slayback's Missouri Rifles and surrendered his company at Shreveport.
He decided to settle in Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish, and became a mercantile clerk. He opened a mercantile and real estate business. For a time he owned the Shreveport Street Railway and was president of the Shreveport Waterworks Company. In 1888, he was elected president of the Merchants and Farmers Bank, and in 1891, he became president of the Commercial National Bank, a position which he held until his death. Youree's former bank became a part of AmSouth Bancorporation
AmSouth Bancorporation
AmSouth Bancorporation was a banking company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and operated for its final year in existence as a bank holding company of Regions Financial Corporation after a merger between the two banks. AmSouth was previously known as First National Bank of Birmingham, which...
of Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
which has now merged with Regions Financial Corp. also of Birmingham. At the time of his passing, Youree's wealth was estimated at $2 million.
On June 24, 1870, he married the former Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Scott of Scottsville
Scottsville, Texas
Scottsville is a city in Harrison County, Texas, United States. The population was 263 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 272.-Geography:...
in Harrison County, Texas
Harrison County, Texas
Harrison County is a county of the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 62,110. It is named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary. It is located in the Ark-La-Tex region...
, east of Marshall
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
and west of Shreveport. She was the daughter of Colonel W. T. Scott, a member of the Texas State Senate, whose family founded Scottsville. They had a son, William Scott Youree (1872–1904), and a daughter, Susie Rose Youree Lloyd (1881–1974).
Youree was also active in local politics. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was a member from 1884 to 1900 of the Caddo Parish Police Jury (renamed the Caddo Parish Commission), some of that tenure as the police jury president. His colleagues included for a time future Mayor Andrew Querbes
Andrew Querbes
Andrew C. Querbes, Sr. , was a banker, planter, and civic figure who served as the mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, from 1902 to 1906.-Biography:...
and later State Representative
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
Perry P. Keith.
Youree was a member of the First Methodist Church of Shreveport. His home on Fairfield Avenue called "Youreeka" was a Shreveport showplace for many years. He is not interred in Shreveport but at the Scottsville/Youree Cemetery in Scottsville, Texas. The cemetery is known for its replica of the acclaimed "Weeping Angel" or "Angel of Grief
Angel of Grief
Angel of Grief is an 1894 sculpture by William Wetmore Story which serves as the grave stone of the artist and his wife at the Protestant Cemetery, Rome....
" statue, originally built to honor the grave of son William Scott Youree, who was killed in Monterrey, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Honors
Youree Drive, a major thoroughfare in Shreveport, was named for Captain Youree. Youree Middle School bears his name.Captain Youree was a member of the General Leroy Stafford Camp #3, United Confederate Veterans in Shreveport. The Confederate monument at Greenwood Cemetery on Stoner Avenue was erected by Youree in honor of his comrades who are interred there. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Youree, was a longtime president of the Shreveport Chapter #237, United Daughters of the Confederacy
United Daughters of the Confederacy
The United Daughters of the Confederacy is a women's heritage association dedicated to honoring the memory of those who served in the military and died in service to the Confederate States of America . UDC began as the National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy, organized in 1894 by...
. A chapter of the Children of the Confederacy in her honor.