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Biographies of Caddo Parish, LA |
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WALT WHITMAN
Whatever the critics may say of the poems of Walt
Whitman, their perusal produces the feeling that there is a certain
something in them which rivets the attention and commands respect. Who has
read his later poem, "With Husky, Haughty Lips, Oh Sea," without being
struck with its solemnity? There is no one who has stood, alone, upon the
sea shore, on a stormy day, but has experienced the feelings that are
embodied in that poem. The sea, the wonderful awe-inspiring theme that has
called forth the enthusiasm of not only the subject of this sketch, but
also of such illustrious poets as Byron, Tennyson, Cervantes, and others. His birthplace is Engaging as a volunteer nurse in the war of the
Rebellion, it is said that during the course of the war he attended to the
wants of a hundred thousand wounded soldiers, treating both confederates
and federals alike. He suffers from partial paralysis caused by this
severe labor, and is entitled to a pension, but has steadily refused to
make application for it. He has written a book of prose, entitled "Specimen Days
and Collection,'' but his crowning work is "Leaves of Grass," which was
commenced in 1855, and completed in 1882. "Perhaps, the best of a song heard, or of any or all
true love, or life's fairest episodes — or sailors', soldiers' trying
scenes on land or sea — is the floating resume of them, long afterwards,"
writes the subject of this sketch. "And although, from a worldly point of
view, the 'Leaves of Grass' has been worse than a failure, I now look upon
it as my definite carte visite to the coming generations of the "Leaves of Grass" is, or seeks to be, a faithful record
of the author's thoughts, in song, — solely of 'When Champollion, on his deathbed, handed to the
printer the revised proof of his Egyptian Grammar, he said, gaily “be
careful of this, it is my carte de visite to posterity." [Source: The Biographical Review of Prominent Men &
Women of the Day; By Thomas William Herringshaw; Publ. 1888; Transcribed
and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack.]
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McCUTCHEN,
Samford Brown, banker, was
born at Columbus, Ga., July 9,
1834, son of Mark and Pamelia E.
(Brown) McCutchen. His father, a
native of Georgia, held a
commission as major of the state
militia. He settled in Caddo
parish, La., in 1848, and was a
planter, though deeply interested
in public affairs. He was educated
in the schools of his native
stale, and his studies were
continued in those of Louisiana
and Texas. In 1863 he enlisted in
the. 27th Louisiana infantry as a
private, and was stationed at
Vicksburg under Brig.-Gen. M. L.
Smith, then under Stephen 1). Lee
and afterwards under Gen. Schoup,
serving from May 1, 1862, to July
3, 1803, the date of the
surrender. During the lime of his
service he was promoted to
sergeant of his company, then
sergeant- major of the regiment,
and next lieutenant. Prior to and
during the siege of Vicksburg he
acted as the adjutant of the
regiment. He then became acting
assistant adjutant-general of Gen.
Allen Thomas' brigade, and served
as such until the surrender of the
command at Mansfield, La. After
the war he returned to Shreveport.
He first took a place at a salary,
but in 1868 began business for
himself as a cotton factor and
commission merchant and afterwards
engaged in merchandizing. »
During this time he was elected
president of the cotton exchange
for six successive terms. In 1884
he bought an interest in a banking
firm, and in 1887 was one of the
organizers of the Commercial
National Bank, of Shreve- port, of
which he afterwards became
president. In 1891 he sold his
stock in this bank and started a
private bank, which still
continues. For twenty-two years he
has been a member of the Caddo
parish public school board. He is
an extensive owner of plantations
in Louisiana and Texas, and also
holds valuable city property. For
fourteen years he was
superintendent of the Methodist
Sunday-school and has been a
steward of the First Methodist
Church ( South) since 1870. He was
instrumental in building the first
electric railway line in
Shreveport, and has always been
active in promoting the
advancement of his city. Mr.
McCutchen was married, Dec. 21,
1869, to Amelia, daughter of Judge
Joseph M. Ford, of Caddo parish.
They have four children.
YOUREE,
Peter, soldier and financier, was
born in Lafayette county, Mo.,
April 23, 1843, son of Patrick
Espe and Malvina M. (Zimmerman)
Youree. His grandfather, Frank
Youree, came to this country with
his bride from Dublin, Ireland,
and settled in Sumner county,
Tenn. Peter received his education
in Lafayette county, Mo., and had
his first experience in mercantile
business in his father's store. On
the outbreak of the civil war,
although but seventeen years of
age, he enlisted in company A,
Gordon's regiment, and served in
the Confederate army. He was
wounded at Elkhorn, Mo., at
Shiloh, Miss., and at Helena,
Ark., and during the latter part
of the war he was captain of
company I, Slayback's regiment,
Shelby's brigade of Missouri
rifles, being promoted for
conspicuous gallantry and bravery.
After the war he was clerk in a
store in Shreveport, La., several
years, and then started out in
mercantile business on his own
account, continuing with success
for five years; since that time he
has been occupied in the real
estate business at Shreveport. He
is a man of power and influence,
and his strict integrity and the
perfect consistency of his public
career have placed him in many
positions of trust. He has been a
member of the police jury of Caddo
parish for twenty years, and for
four years has been president of
that body. He is president of the
Commercial National Bank of
Shreveport: president of the
Shreveport Water-Works Co. ;
president of the wire nail factory
of Monterey, Mexico, and is a
member of the Confederate
Veterans' Association of
Shreveport, La. Capt. Youree was
married, in 1870, to Bettie Scott,
of Scottsville, Harrison Co.
Texas. Her father, W. T. Scott,
was one of the best known men of
east Texas; her grandfathers,
Thomas Scott and Capt. Win.
Pinknev Hose, served through the
war of 1812 with Andrew Jackson,
both being present at the battle
of New Orleans; and some of her
more remote ancestors were in the
American revolution. Capt. and
Mrs. Youree have one son, William
Scott, general manager of the wire
nail factory at Monterey, Mexico,
and one daughter, Susie Rose, a
young lady of high
accomplishments.![[graphic]](clip_image001.gif)
