Peter Youree

Peter Youree
Member and president, Caddo Parish Police Jury in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
In office 1884–1900
Preceded by	At-large jurors
Succeeded by	At-large jurors
Personal details
Born	April 23, 1843(1843-04-23) Lafayette County Missouri, USA
Died	July 13, 1914(1914-07-13) (aged 71)
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Mary Elizabeth Scott Youree (married 1870)
Children	William Scott Youree Susie Rose Youree Lloyd
Occupation	Businessman Banker
Religion	Methodist

Youree Drive in Shreveport, named for Peter Youree, is among the busiest thoroughfares in the city.

Peter Youree (April 23, 1843 - July 13, 1914) was an American businessman 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.

Biography

Youree was born in Lafayette County in north central Missouri, 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.

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. A chapter of the Children of the Confederacy in her honor.

References

• "Peter Youree", A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Vol. 2 (1988) p. 868
• Washington Youree Hotel Shreveport, LA at www.cardcow.com
• Weeping Angel Statues Houston Scottsville and Denison Texas. at www.texasescapes.com
• Scottsville Texas and Scottsville Cemetery. at www.texasescapes.com
• Weeping Angel gravesite at findagrave.com

Preceded by Charles Janvier of New Orleans

President of the Louisiana Bankers Association Peter Youree 1908–1909

Succeeded by R.N. Sims of Donaldsonville of Ascension Parish