Thomas Peter Lee
Encyclopedia
Born on March 19, 1871, in Petroleum, West Virginia
to Alexander and Martha Jane Mount Lee, Thomas Peter Lee left school at the age of sixteen and went to work in the oil fields, first in his native state and then in Ohio
. In 1903 he moved to Saratoga, Texas
, where he gained employment with the newly formed Texas Company, which eventually became Texaco
, and when he left that organization ten years later, he had attained the rank of general superintendent of production. While there, however, he became friends with J.S. Cullinan, and the two, along with Emerson Francis Woodward, Will C. Hogg, and James L. Autry, joined in 1914 to form the Farmers Petroleum Company, of which Lee became president.
In 1916 Lee, along with Cullinan, Woodward, and other associates, organized the American Republics Corporation that later controlled twenty-one subsidiaries involved in all facets of the oil industry: prospecting, production, refining, and transportation, as well as manufacturing ships, tank cars, and oil tools. While serving on the board of directors, Lee also held the position of vice president in charge of production. But things would eventually sour between Lee and Cullinan, and several years later, they headed opposing forces bitterly engaged in a stock war for control of the corporation. Cullinan not only defeated Lee in the struggle, but he put his own son Craig into Lee’s position as vice president. More than he could bear, Lee resigned and began a lucrative career in the investment field.
At the suggestion of his older brother, William Ellsworth “Bill” Lee, T. P. agreed to meet with a young wildcatter
named Miles Franklin Yount
, at the time a resident of Sour Lake, Texas
, and afterward, T. P. invested $25,000 in the new enterprise that became the Yount-Lee Oil Company
, one of the most successful independent oil producers of its day. Yount-Lee went on to drill numerous deep-flank oil wells in both East Texas
and Louisiana
, and was responsible for the Second Spindletop boom begun at Beaumont, Texas
on November 14, 1925.
Lee also became active in agriculture
and cattle breeding on his ranch in Uvalde County. An avid Republican
, he attended several national conventions as a delegate, and in 1924 he refused the party’s nomination for governor of Texas. He twice married, the first to Elizabeth Mann on July 14, 1892. Before she died on June 21, 1895, however, the union produced one child, Mabel Martha, who later became the wife of Talbot Frederick Rothwell
. Lee’s second marriage occurred on April 24, 1900, to Essie Mable Horton of Savannah, Georgia
, and together, the couple had five daughters: Maude, Ethel, Maxine, Thelma, and Marjorie. Contrary to many previously published accounts, T. P. Lee had no sons.
At age sixty-seven, Thomas Peter Lee died of a coronary occlusion
on February 4, 1939, and he was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, two days later. Lee’s former home, now referred to as the Link–Lee House, and its surrounding area, became the basis of the founding of the University of St. Thomas (Houston)
which still occupies the site today. In particular, the house serves as the university’s administration building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, and as a landmark of both the State of Texas and the City of Houston.
Petroleum, West Virginia
Petroleum is an unincorporated community in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. Its elevation is 699 feet . It has no post office but still has a ZIP code of 26161. The North Bend Rail Trail passes through the community....
to Alexander and Martha Jane Mount Lee, Thomas Peter Lee left school at the age of sixteen and went to work in the oil fields, first in his native state and then in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. In 1903 he moved to Saratoga, Texas
Saratoga, Texas
Saratoga is an unincorporated community in Hardin County, Texas, United States. It is located thirty-eight miles northwest of Beaumont. The zip code is 77585.Saratoga is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, where he gained employment with the newly formed Texas Company, which eventually became Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
, and when he left that organization ten years later, he had attained the rank of general superintendent of production. While there, however, he became friends with J.S. Cullinan, and the two, along with Emerson Francis Woodward, Will C. Hogg, and James L. Autry, joined in 1914 to form the Farmers Petroleum Company, of which Lee became president.
In 1916 Lee, along with Cullinan, Woodward, and other associates, organized the American Republics Corporation that later controlled twenty-one subsidiaries involved in all facets of the oil industry: prospecting, production, refining, and transportation, as well as manufacturing ships, tank cars, and oil tools. While serving on the board of directors, Lee also held the position of vice president in charge of production. But things would eventually sour between Lee and Cullinan, and several years later, they headed opposing forces bitterly engaged in a stock war for control of the corporation. Cullinan not only defeated Lee in the struggle, but he put his own son Craig into Lee’s position as vice president. More than he could bear, Lee resigned and began a lucrative career in the investment field.
At the suggestion of his older brother, William Ellsworth “Bill” Lee, T. P. agreed to meet with a young wildcatter
Wildcatter
A wildcatter is an American term for a person who drills wildcat wells, which are oil wells drilled in areas not known to be oil fields. A wildcatter notable for his success was Texan oil tycoon Glenn McCarthy....
named Miles Franklin Yount
Miles Franklin Yount
Born in Arkansas on January 31, 1880, Miles Franklin "Frank" Yount eventually came to head up one of the most successful, private oil companies in the United States. Although famous in later years as the "Godfather of Beaumont", Frank’s early life is shrouded in mystery...
, at the time a resident of Sour Lake, Texas
Sour Lake, Texas
Sour Lake is a city in Hardin County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,813 at the 2010 census. It was originally named Sour Lake Springs, after the mineral-laden spring water that flowed into the nearby lake. The city is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical...
, and afterward, T. P. invested $25,000 in the new enterprise that became the Yount-Lee Oil Company
Yount-Lee Oil Company
The Yount-Lee Oil Company, founded in 1914, was the successor to the Yount-Rothwell Oil Company which had been formed earlier by Miles Franklin Yount and Talbot Frederick Rothwell. Yount headed up the new enterprise and counted among his partners Thomas Peter Lee, William Ellsworth Lee, Emerson...
, one of the most successful independent oil producers of its day. Yount-Lee went on to drill numerous deep-flank oil wells in both East Texas
East Texas
East Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
and 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...
, and was responsible for the Second Spindletop boom begun at Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
on November 14, 1925.
Lee also became active in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and cattle breeding on his ranch in Uvalde County. An avid Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he attended several national conventions as a delegate, and in 1924 he refused the party’s nomination for governor of Texas. He twice married, the first to Elizabeth Mann on July 14, 1892. Before she died on June 21, 1895, however, the union produced one child, Mabel Martha, who later became the wife of Talbot Frederick Rothwell
Talbot Frederick Rothwell
Talbot Frederick Rothwell was born in West Virginia on February 27, 1887 to T. J. and Mary Jane Cross Rothwell. Educated in the public schools of both his native state and Ohio, he began his career in the oil fields and eventually moved to Saratoga, Texas, where he found work with the production...
. Lee’s second marriage occurred on April 24, 1900, to Essie Mable Horton of Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, and together, the couple had five daughters: Maude, Ethel, Maxine, Thelma, and Marjorie. Contrary to many previously published accounts, T. P. Lee had no sons.
At age sixty-seven, Thomas Peter Lee died of a coronary occlusion
Coronary occlusion
A coronary occlusion is the partial or complete obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery. This condition may cause a heart attack.In some patients coronary occlusion causes only mild pain, tightness or vague discomfort which may be ignored: the myocardium is however damaged....
on February 4, 1939, and he was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, two days later. Lee’s former home, now referred to as the Link–Lee House, and its surrounding area, became the basis of the founding of the University of St. Thomas (Houston)
University of St. Thomas (Houston)
The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, United States is a comprehensive Catholic university, grounded in the liberal arts...
which still occupies the site today. In particular, the house serves as the university’s administration building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and as a landmark of both the State of Texas and the City of Houston.