Tag Archives: Wah Chung Company

Lee Chung – Ashland, Oregon

Certificate of Residence, Form 432 Laborer's Return Certificate, photo, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Lee Chung, Form 432 photo,” 1912, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, RG 85, National Archives-Seattle, Lee Chung case file, Box RS 215, file RS30227.

In Lee Chung’s December 1912 application for a laborer’s return certificate he testified that he was single, had no other names, and was 46 years old, a cook in Ashland, Oregon for Mr. Wolf, Mr. Hardy and Wah Chung. He was born in China. Lee presented a Chinese memorandum book to R. P. Bonham, the examining inspector, which showed an entry for a loan Lee had made to Wong Gon Szue.

Wong Gon Szue, marriage name Leong Jee, was a witness for Lee Chung. Wong was 60 years old, born in China and a railroad labor contractor in Ashland, Oregon. He arrived in San Francisco in 1871 and had never been back to China. His wife, Jin Shee, age 29, had released feet, and was born in San Francisco. They had a son, Wong Gim Men, born in 1910 in Ashland and a daughter, Wong Loy Hai, born about 1892 at Happy Camp, California. He owed Lee Chung $1,000 in gold coin with an interest rate of 4%. The loan was made at his store, Wah Chung Company, in Ashland and was to be paid to Lee Ching when he returned from China. Wong Sheh Hen and Ng Dock were witnesses to the loan.

[The Scott Act of 1888 “…forbade the immigration of all Chinese laborers for twenty years, including prior residents unless they had parents, wives, or children living in the United States or property or debts worth at least $1,000.”]1

Lee Chung 李昌 arrived at the Port of Seattle on 1 December 1913 on the S.S. Titan and was admitted the same day, as a returning registered laborer of Ashland, Oregon. His certificate of residence was No. 130341. While in China he married a 24-year-old woman from the Ng family with bound feet. His marriage name was Sing Jock. They had a son born four days before he returned to the U.S.

[There is no more information in the file.  The interrogation of the witness is longer than the interview of the applicant. THN]

 

  1. Lucy Salyer, “Chew Heong v. United States: Chinese Exclusion and the Federal Courts,” Federal Trials and Great Debates in United States History (2006); Federal Judicial Center (https://www.fjc.gov/sites/default/files/trials/exclusion.pdf : accessed 28 October 2019), 42.

 

Look See, wife of Chin Quong, a manager of the Wa Chong Company

Affidavit, photo, reference sheet, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Look See (Mrs Chin Quong)to
“Photo of Look See (Mrs. Chin Quong),” 1904, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, RG 85, National Archives-Seattle, Look See case file, Seattle Box 1236, 35205/1-4.

Look See, wife of Chin Quong, a manager of the Wa Chong Company, 719 King Street, Seattle, Washington, made two trips in China—one in 1904 and another in 1917.

After the first trip Look See was re-admitted to the United States at Port Townsend, Washington on 22 June 1905. She testified that she was thirty-six years old and first came to the United States with her sister, Mrs. Chin Gee Hee, in about 1882 or 1883 when she was around thirteen years old. When asked if she knew any white men in Seattle, she replied that she knew Mr. Whitlock, a lawyer; and three white ladies: Mrs. Hambeck, a Christian teacher; Mrs. Thomas, an old lady, also a teacher; and Mrs. Greene. Chin Kee was her Chinese witness. He testified that Look See and Chin Quong had been married according to the Chinese custom for at least twenty years; they had six children—three sons and three daughters, all born in Seattle. Her maiden name was Ah Quan. Chin Gee Hee, a merchant, labor contractor, and well-known early settler in Seattle, performed their wedding ceremony in October 1886.
Look See’s husband Chin Quong testified that he had been a member of the Wah Chung (Wa Chong) firm since about 1890. There were seven partners whose capital stock equaled $60,000 [worth almost  $1,600,000 in 2017]. The partners were Chin Quong (himself), Chin Quok Jon, Woo Jen, Chin Wing, Chin Wing Mow, Chin Wing Yon, Chin Yen Gee, and Chin Ching Hock. [That adds up to eight partners but the John H. Sargent, Chinese Inspector did not ask about the discrepancy.] Chin Quong was also a manager at the Wah Chung Tai Company in Butte, Montana.
John C. Whitlock, testified that he was forty-eight years old, had lived in Seattle more than sixteen years–arriving in the spring of 1898, and since he collected the rent from the Chinese tenants of the Wah Chung building he was well acquainted with Chin Quong. Whitlock usually had to go to the building night after night to find all of the tenants. He was aware that Look See was in the detention house in Port Townsend when this testimony was taken. Whitlock, Samuel F. Coombs, Justice of the Peace; and Chin Quong all testified in affidavits in Look See’s favor in 1904 before she left for China.
Look See left Seattle again in September 1916 with her sons Chin Dan and Ah Wing, and her daughter Ah Lan. She was returning in June 1917 with her son, Chin Dan, and her daughter, her daughter’s husband, Pang Chung Cheong; and their infant son. They were admitted.
The Reference Sheet lists these files: RS 910 & 34,380, Look See; 35205/1-1, Archie Pang, son-in-law; 35205/1-2, Annie M. Chin, daughter; 35205/1-2, Victor Ernest Pang, grandson; 35205/1-5, Chin Dan, son; 36918/3-8, Chin May Goon, daughter of husband by secondary wife; 40231/2-16, Anna Pang (Annie M. Chin) Chin May Young, daughter; RS 2033, Chin Quong, husband.

Wong Youe – 1900 Admittance Form – Ashland, OR

Admittance form, Affidavit, photo, , , , , , , ,
Wong Youe Admittance Form, 1900,
“Wong Youe Admittance Form,” 1900, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, RG 85, National Archives-Seattle, Wong Youe file, Seattle, Box RS 89, Case 15598.

[This is an example of an early file. There is no formal interrogation.]
Wong Youe was 39 years old, five feet five inches tall, and had a small scar between his eyes. He had been living in the United States for 23 years. As one of three partners in the Wah Chung Company in Ashland, Oregon, he had invested $1,000 in the store. One of the partners was living in China. Wong Youe could speak English well and was familiar with the United States.
On 13 February 1897, before Wong Youe left the United States, M.N. Long, P. W. Paulson, W.H. Brunk, and G. W. Vanpel signed a statement vouching for Wong Youe.
Wong Youe returned to Port Townsend, Washington on 21 February 1900 on the s. s. Victoria. Upon his return sworn affidavits were taken from G. W. Vanpel, a resident of Ashland for ten years; F. M. Drake, a resident in Ashland for twenty years; R. A. Minkler, a resident of Ashland for seven years; and M. N. Long, a resident of Oregon for seventeen years. They all testified that Wong Youe “is NOT a laborer but is an actual BONA FIDE merchant” for more than two years prior to his departure from the United States on 27th day of February 1897. They stated that he worked for the Wah Chung Company on Oak Street, Ashland, Oregon.
[In 1900 it was permissible for a merchant to “put up goods and wait on customers” but he was not allowed to ”perform any manual labor other than that herein specifically set forth.”]

Wong Youe Photo
“Wong Youe Affidavit Photo,” 1900, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, RG 85, National Archives-Seattle, Wong Youe file, Seattle, Box RS 89, Case 15598.