Peter Youree



Peter Youree (April 23, 1843 - July 13, 1914) was an American businessman and banker from Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1910 he directed the construction of 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 1843 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.

After the war, 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, Youree 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. In 1910 he directed the construction of Shreveport's first skyscraper, the ten-story Commercial National Bank Building, for its headquarters. He served as president of the Louisiana Bankers Association from 1908-1909.

He also financed the construction of his massive Youree Hotel, later called the Washington Youree Hotel, in downtown Shreveport. At the time of his passing, Youree's wealth was estimated at $2 million.

Youree's former bank became a part of AmSouth Bancorporation of Birmingham, Alabama, which has now merged with Regions Financial Corp., also of Birmingham.

Captain Youree was a member of the General Leroy Stafford Camp #3, United Confederate Veterans in Shreveport. He commissioned the Confederate monument at Greenwood Cemetery on Stoner Avenue in honor of his comrades who are interred there.

Marriage and family
On June 24, 1870, he married Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Scott of Scottsville in Harrison County, Texas, 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 (1881–1974) (she later married a Mr. Lloyd).

Political career
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 and his wife were interred 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 their 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.


 * His wife, Mary Elizabeth Youree, (Betty) was a longtime president of the Shreveport Chapter #237, United Daughters of the Confederacy. A chapter of the Children of the Confederacy was named in her honor.