Born in Alvarado

This is the picture of Fong Jung Kee, 1890.  His papers capture some fragments of his life in Alvarado.

He was born in 1863 over the Yuen Yee & Co. (or Yee Ngee?) store  in Alvarado where his father was proprietor. His father, Fong Quai Chun, belonged to the Young Wah Company. Would that be the same as the Young Wo Company?

He went to China in 1878 at age 15 with his parents. He returned, at 27, was detained in SF in 1890, and was represented by Thomas Riordan. He was discharged in 1891 and allowed to stay in U.S.

He was supported by his distant cousin, Fong Quong, at Yee Chong & Company at 639 Jackson in SF.

There is another set of papers of Fong Di Quan who was also born in Alvarado.

References

• These papers are from the Frederick Bee archives. Who was Frederick Bee?
• "Frederick Alonzo Bee (1825-1892) was a Gold Rush pioneer, merchant, builder of the Sierra telegraph, developer of Sausalito, lobbyist, attorney, and official of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco from 1878-1892."
• Article about Frederick Bee in Chinese "Frederick Bee, an American Lawyer at the Service of Chinese Emperor"
• Him Mark Lai wrote about the Chinese Six Companies. Young Wo Company is one of the six.
• Fong Jung Kee  summary "Fong Jung Kee was born to Fong Quai Chin (father) and Lum Shee (mother) in 1863 at Alvarado, California.. He returned on the steamship Oceanic and arrived in San Francisco on August 30, 1890. The Collector of the Port of San Francisco refused permission for his landing. Fong Quan, cousin, petitioned for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on September 2, 1890. A bond was posted. Ward McAllister, Jr. Special Referee and Examiner, recommended discharge on May 7, 1891 . Detainee was represented by Thomas Riordan. On May 9, 1891, an Order of Discharge allowed him to remain in the country."
• Fong Dai Quong summary "Fong Dai Quong was born to Fong Chew (father) and Go See (mother) in 1873 at Alvarado, California. He left for China on October 25, 1881 on the steamship City of Tokyo . He returned on the steamship Oceanic and arrived in San Francisco on August 30, 1890. The Collector of the Port of San Francisco refused permission for his landing. Fong Quai Leong, cousin, petitioned for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on September 2, 1890. A bond was posted. Ward McAllister, Jr. Special Referee and Examiner, recommended discharge on July 23, 1891 . Detainee was represented by Alfred Ricketts. On July 23, 1891, an Order of Discharge allowed him to remain in the country. "
• Alvarado (New Haven and Union City) 1850-1870, Timothy Swenson, 2010. References.
• Alvarado's Chinatown/Little Tijuana, Anthony Gualco, 2012. Reference is the following:
• Past & Present of Alameda County, California; Joseph E. Baker; 1914 vol. 1 & 2.