Mr. Teh Seow Teng (3th August 1870- 10th November 1940), was educated at the Free School, Penang and joined the firm of Messrs. Thean Chee & Co. of Penang. He was a local merchant as well before making his way to Kuala Lumpur to take up the role as joint manager of the firm of Chow Kit & Co. In 1902 he accepted the secretaryship of the State Farms (likely the Opium, Spirits Farms), and occupied the office until the lease of the farm expired three years later. He was a trustee of the Victoria Institute, a director of the Eastern Trading Company, a director of Messrs. Chow Kit & Co., and is essentially a merchant in numerous businesses. Teh Seow Teng was also the principal trustee of Yap Kwan Seng estate.
The beautiful cluster of tomb consist of Madam Lua Oon Neo (mother of Teh Seow Teng), Teh Seow Teng, Madam Wong Quee Nyong (wife of Teh Seow Teng). Behind this tomb are the tombs of Dr. Teh Yok Chee (son of Teh Seow Teng), Choy Lin Kum (wife of Dr. Teh Yok Chee), Molly Cheah Cheng Sim (wife of Dr. Teh Yok Chee)
Messrs. Chow Kit & Co. was touted to be the largest storekeepers in Kuala Lumpur during that period. Located at the corner of Holland Road and Clarke Street [1], it was one of the major landmarks of that time . Established in 1892, with a staff of six, the business grew with numerous branches in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with over 100 staff. It was a general store, with agencies for many London firms and life and fire insurance companies. The proprietors are Loke Chow Kit (Kuala Lumpur), Ho Kim Kee (Penang), Lim Chin Guan (Penang), and Teh Seow Teng (Kuala Lumpur). The tailoring department was very well known for its semi-European style, which has been adopted by Chinese who could afford it.
Madam Lua Oon Neo was the matriarch of the Teo cluster of tombs and occupies the middle tomb of the family cluster with Teo Seow Teng and his wife flanking the front left and right. Madam Lua Oon Neo passed away on 24th May 1926 at the age of 100 years old. Unfortunately, i am unable to find the name of Teh Seow Teng's father.
Wife: Wong Quee Nyong (31 March 1881 -26 April 1958)
Madam Wong Quee Nyong passed away on 26 April 1958 at 78 Weld Road. She leaves behind 3 sons; Teh Yok Chee, Teh Yok Kye, Teh Yok Chin, 1 daughter, Mrs Yong Loo Lin, son-in-law, 3 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren.
Son: Teh Yok Chee
Dr. Teh Yok Chee, M.B. B.S studied in Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur. He completed his medical studies in Hong Kong University before doing his medical training in Vienna. He joined Universal Dispensary in his medical practice in Kuala Lumpur. He was also the President of the Asiatic Private Medical Practitioners' Union of Selangor. Dr. Teh Yok Chee married Miss Choy Lin Kum (daughter of the late Mr Choy Joy of Sydney, Australia) in 1929. Teh Tok Chee passed away on 13 Jan 1972 and is buried in the family cluster of Teh Seow Teng. Madam Choy Lin Kum, born 28 February 1899, passed away on 5 June 1964. The cortege left her residence at 44 Jalan Freeman for Kwantung Cemetery, KL. Molly Cheah Cheng Sim (wife of Dr. Teh Yok Chee) was born on 29 February 1932 and passed away on 18 June 1981.
Son:Teh Yok Kye
The wedding of Mr Teh Yok Kye (son of Towkay Teh Seow Teng and Mrs. Teh Seow Teng) and Miss Chong Saw Cheok (second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chong Ah Foh) at "Hazeldean", Weld Road in 1929, Kuala Lumpur. Towkay Yap Loong Hin, J.P. performed the ceremony. The Selangor State Band as in attendance.
Son: Teh Yok Chin
Dr Teh Yok Chin, youngest son of Teh Seow Teng completed his medical studies in University of Hong Kong. He did further studies in Dublin (L.M. Diploma) and medical training in Vienna. (following the same path as his brother, Dr. Teh Yok Chee). He went on to start his own clinic called People's Dispensary in Port Swettenham.
Daughter: Teh Yok Choo
Miss Teh Yok Choo (only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Teh Seow Teng of Hazeldean, Weld Road) married Dr. Yong Loo Lim (third son of Mr and Mrs Yong Nee Chai). The ceremony took place at 50, Ampang Road on March 1925.
The tomb has many unique decorative tiles as well.
References
Chinese Wedding. (1929, May 25). Malayan Saturday Post, page 38
Advertisement. (1925, March 30). The Straits Times, page 8
Untitled. (1925, June 11). The Singapore Free Press, page 16
Death. (1958, April 27). The Straits Time, page 20
Kuala Lumpur street names : a guide to their meanings & histories / Mariana Isa, Maganjeet Kaur.
Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Wright, Arnold. London, Durban, Colombo, Perth (W. A.), Singapore, Hongkong, and Shanghai: Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, Limited, 1908.Available online from Southeast Asia Visions. Cornell University Library.
Notes
[1]
Holland Road (Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan ) a road named after Hugh Holland (architect and amateur actor), a early resident of the Straits Settlement.Clarke Street (Jalan Mahkamah Tinggi) a road named after Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Clarke (second Governor of Singapore and Governor of the Straits Settlement, 1873-1875)
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| Teh Seow Teng (picture from tomb) |
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| Teh Seow Teng |
The beautiful cluster of tomb consist of Madam Lua Oon Neo (mother of Teh Seow Teng), Teh Seow Teng, Madam Wong Quee Nyong (wife of Teh Seow Teng). Behind this tomb are the tombs of Dr. Teh Yok Chee (son of Teh Seow Teng), Choy Lin Kum (wife of Dr. Teh Yok Chee), Molly Cheah Cheng Sim (wife of Dr. Teh Yok Chee)
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| Family cluster of Teh Seow Teng at Kuala Lumpur Kwong Tong Cemtery |
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| Family cluster of Teh Seow Teng at Kuala Lumpur Kwong Tong Cemetery |
CHOW KIT & CO.
Messrs. Chow Kit & Co. was touted to be the largest storekeepers in Kuala Lumpur during that period. Located at the corner of Holland Road and Clarke Street [1], it was one of the major landmarks of that time . Established in 1892, with a staff of six, the business grew with numerous branches in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with over 100 staff. It was a general store, with agencies for many London firms and life and fire insurance companies. The proprietors are Loke Chow Kit (Kuala Lumpur), Ho Kim Kee (Penang), Lim Chin Guan (Penang), and Teh Seow Teng (Kuala Lumpur). The tailoring department was very well known for its semi-European style, which has been adopted by Chinese who could afford it.
Family
Mother: Madam Lua Oon NeoMadam Lua Oon Neo was the matriarch of the Teo cluster of tombs and occupies the middle tomb of the family cluster with Teo Seow Teng and his wife flanking the front left and right. Madam Lua Oon Neo passed away on 24th May 1926 at the age of 100 years old. Unfortunately, i am unable to find the name of Teh Seow Teng's father.
Wife: Wong Quee Nyong (31 March 1881 -26 April 1958)
Madam Wong Quee Nyong passed away on 26 April 1958 at 78 Weld Road. She leaves behind 3 sons; Teh Yok Chee, Teh Yok Kye, Teh Yok Chin, 1 daughter, Mrs Yong Loo Lin, son-in-law, 3 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren.
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| Mrs Teh Seow Teng nee Wong Quee Nyong |
Son: Teh Yok Chee
Dr. Teh Yok Chee, M.B. B.S studied in Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur. He completed his medical studies in Hong Kong University before doing his medical training in Vienna. He joined Universal Dispensary in his medical practice in Kuala Lumpur. He was also the President of the Asiatic Private Medical Practitioners' Union of Selangor. Dr. Teh Yok Chee married Miss Choy Lin Kum (daughter of the late Mr Choy Joy of Sydney, Australia) in 1929. Teh Tok Chee passed away on 13 Jan 1972 and is buried in the family cluster of Teh Seow Teng. Madam Choy Lin Kum, born 28 February 1899, passed away on 5 June 1964. The cortege left her residence at 44 Jalan Freeman for Kwantung Cemetery, KL. Molly Cheah Cheng Sim (wife of Dr. Teh Yok Chee) was born on 29 February 1932 and passed away on 18 June 1981.
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| Dr. Teh Yok Chee |
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| Madam Choy Lin Kum |
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| Molly Cheah Cheng Sim |
Son:Teh Yok Kye
The wedding of Mr Teh Yok Kye (son of Towkay Teh Seow Teng and Mrs. Teh Seow Teng) and Miss Chong Saw Cheok (second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chong Ah Foh) at "Hazeldean", Weld Road in 1929, Kuala Lumpur. Towkay Yap Loong Hin, J.P. performed the ceremony. The Selangor State Band as in attendance.
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| Teh Yok Kye and Chong Saw Cheok (source: NewspaperSG) |
Dr Teh Yok Chin, youngest son of Teh Seow Teng completed his medical studies in University of Hong Kong. He did further studies in Dublin (L.M. Diploma) and medical training in Vienna. (following the same path as his brother, Dr. Teh Yok Chee). He went on to start his own clinic called People's Dispensary in Port Swettenham.
Daughter: Teh Yok Choo
Miss Teh Yok Choo (only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Teh Seow Teng of Hazeldean, Weld Road) married Dr. Yong Loo Lim (third son of Mr and Mrs Yong Nee Chai). The ceremony took place at 50, Ampang Road on March 1925.
Unique Tomb Architecture and Materials
The family cluster clearly indicates who the plot belongs to, "T.S. Teng Boundary" and the size, "Total Area 3675 sq feet (roughly 341 sq meters)
The tomb has many unique decorative tiles as well.
References
Chinese Wedding. (1929, May 25). Malayan Saturday Post, page 38
Advertisement. (1925, March 30). The Straits Times, page 8
Untitled. (1925, June 11). The Singapore Free Press, page 16
Death. (1958, April 27). The Straits Time, page 20
Kuala Lumpur street names : a guide to their meanings & histories / Mariana Isa, Maganjeet Kaur.
Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Wright, Arnold. London, Durban, Colombo, Perth (W. A.), Singapore, Hongkong, and Shanghai: Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, Limited, 1908.Available online from Southeast Asia Visions. Cornell University Library.
Notes
[1]
Holland Road (Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan ) a road named after Hugh Holland (architect and amateur actor), a early resident of the Straits Settlement.Clarke Street (Jalan Mahkamah Tinggi) a road named after Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Clarke (second Governor of Singapore and Governor of the Straits Settlement, 1873-1875)
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