In June 1895, Louis Loy (Louie Loy) sought approval for a trip to China. He was born in Jung Share (Jung Sea) Village, Sun Ning District, China. His marriage name was Louie Ngee Goon. J. Edgar Mills, wrote to the Chinese Inspector in Spokane, Washington, certifying that he had known Louis Loy for over three years and Louis was doing business in 1891 as Loy On & Co., a Japanese bazar [market], on Pike Street, in the Wa Chong Building.
William Y. L. Rutherford swore in an affidavit in November 1893 that he had known Louis Loy as a merchant since 1890 in the business of manufacturing and dealing with ladies’ underwear. Since 1891, Louis and his partner, Lou Suie, continued the business under the name of Quong Lee Yuen & Co. The business was in the back of the Chinese grocery, Wa Chong Company.
In June 1901, W. Y. L. Rutherford and Walter Bernett swore that they had known Louis Loy as a merchant for over ten years. Thomas M. Fisher, Chinese and Immigrant Inspector in Seattle sent a summary of his findings for interviews with Rutherford, M. S. Booth, Walter Burritt, and Alexander Wilson, to the Deputy Collector’s Office in Port Townsend. Booth was a manager at Ballargerin [a downtown Seattle department store] and lived in Seattle for twenty-nine years. Burritt and Wilson both knew Louie Loy for about ten years. Wilson, a merchant, testified that Louis visited Wilson’s store about every third day to buy silk, lace and dress goods for gowns. Louis Loy’s trip was approved. He traveled to China and returned on 1 July 1901.
In August 1909, Louis Loy applied for a trip to Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. He wanted to bring his wife, Leong She, and his minor daughter, Louis Gim Won, back with him.
His witnesses were L.B. Jackson and W. H. Greeley, both employees at Western Dry Goods Company and longtime residents of Seattle. They swore that Louis was a merchant for more than five years at 316 Yesler Way in Seatle and had done no manual labor during the last year. A photo of Louis Loy was attached to the affidavit.
A note at the end of Louis Loy’s interrogation, says, “This applicant is personally known to the examining inspector as a reputable Chinese merchant of this city.” Signed by Henry A. Monroe
A partnership list of Louis Loy & Company as of 8 October 1909 is included in the file.
Louis Loy’s trip to Canada was approved. Louis and Leong She were married at 728 Commonwealth Street, Victoria, B.C. on 19 October 1909 in the Methodist Church by A. E. Roberts, clergyman, with witnesses L. Chewkum, Chan Sui and Maggie Smith.
Louis, his wife, and daughter returned to Seattle on the 20th of October. Louis’ first wife died in 1908. The immigration inspector examined Louis’ marriage license, approved it, and returned it to Louis. Ah Foon (Woon), Louis’ ten-year-old daughter by his first wife was interrogated. The family was admitted.
In February 1929, Louie Loy submitted a Request for a Return Certificate. He was now sixty-six years old, [his interrogation lists his age as 67] considered a laborer, a peddler selling Chinese pastry. Louis and his second wife, Leung She, had eleven children, all born in the U.S. He provided the names and dates of birth for his children. They were living at Canton Alley in Seattle. Ah Chung owed him $1,000. [Laborers were required to have property or debt of $1,000] Ah Chung was questioned and his testimony agreed with Louie Loy.
Louis Loy was originally admitted into the United States in 1895 as a returning merchant. He was in China during the original registration period, so he did not have a Certificate of Residence. On each of his trips he used his affidavit to prove his status as a merchant. When he returned from his 1929 trip to China, he received his Certificate of Identity #62558.
According to his file, Louis Loy’s last trip to China was in March 1931, returning and admitted in January 1932.
The reference sheet in his file lists the names and file numbers for Louis Loy’s wife, two sons, and seven daughters–potentially containing much more information on this family.