Koh Tiong Yang was once the proprietor of the Primrose Aerated Water (11-1 Middle Road) before he sold it in 1918 to Chan Cheng Happ and Kum Peng Huat. In 1935, there was a bankruptcy notice dated 4th April 1935 called for Koh Tiong Yang, a Trader at 126 Chin Swee Road. What was the outcome of this case is unknown to me. Koh Tiong Yan passed away at the age of 76 at his residence, 126 Chin Swee Road on 6th January, 1938. He is survived by his wife (Ong Chit Bee), 1 son-in-law, Mr. Chua Seng Hock, 1 son, Koh Yew Keng, 2 daughters (Koh Geok Choo, Koh Choo Leng) , 1 daughter-in-law, several grandchildren.
Son: Koh Yew Keng / Koh Yew Keng, Vincent
Koh Yew Keng is listed as the only son of Mr and Mrs. Koh Tiong Yang. From newspaper archives, Koh Yew Keng was a very active badminto sportsman and 126 Chin Swee Road was the hotbed for many meetings, including the Annual General meeting for the Amateur Athletic Union, Captain for the Rovers Badminton Party. Koh Yew Keng was a Honorary Secretary for the Singapore Badminton Association. Koh Yew Keng married Chan Jim Neo, Monica. Vincent Koh Yew Keng passed away on 27 July 2006. Chan Jim Neo, Monica passed away at the age of 87 on 28 March 1997. She is survived by her husband, Koh Yew Keng, Vincent and 5 sons; Augustine Koh, Lawrence Koh, Edmund Koh, Kevin Koh and Gregory Koh, 2 daughters; Rita Koh and Margaret Koh, 5 daughter-in-laws, 2 son-in-laws, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Daughter: Koh Geok Choo
Koh Geok Choo married Chua Seng Hock (a son of Mr and Mrs. Chua Soon Leong)
Madam Koh Geok Choo passed away on September, 1980. From the obituary notice, we can see the names of their children; sons: Chua Peng Swee, Chua Peng Guan, Chua Chye Soon, Chua Boon Hor, Chua Kwee Yang. Daughters: Rose Chua, Lily Chua, Chua Bok Lan, Chua Lye Neo; Sons-in-laws: Chan Boon Hock, Stephen Lai, Francis Heng, Ho Boon Ann. Daughters-in-laws: Lim Soon Ai, Cecilia Chua, Ng Sai Hong, Phang Mui Keow, Koh Ah Gek. The cortege left from 31 Ripley Crescent. Her husband, Chua Seng Hock passed away at the age of 58 at his residence in No 126 Chin Swee Road on 8th July 1949.
Grandson: Edmund Koh Bee Sai
Edmund Koh Bee Sai married Agnes Chan Gek Neo (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chan Kok Quan) on 27 January 1963.
Grand-daughter: Rita Koh
An engagement notice (23 January 1954) between Rita Koh (eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs. Koh Yew Keng) and Philip Gan (youngest son of the late Mr. Gan Khek Kheng and Mrs. Helen Gan). The wedding took place on 14 April 1956. From this articles, we can gather than Helen Gan nee Helen See is the daughter of Mr and Mrs. See Tiong Wah. For more information on the family linkage, refer to my article written on See Tiong Wah and family (Bukit Brown)
Grand-daughter: Margaret Koh
Margaret Koh (daughter of Mr & Mrs. Koh Yew Keng) was engaged to William Harpur, son of Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Harpur. They got married on 26 December 1958. (Note: to be verified)
Father: Koh Seck Chuan
Koh Seck Chuan passed away on 22 April 1922 at No 56 Hereen Street, Malacca at the age of 82. He is survived by his 2 sons, Koh Tiong Yang and Koh Tiang Liat, 3 daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren to mourn his loss. Koh Seck Chuan is buried in Padang-Jambu burial ground.
Uncle: Koh Seck Tian
Koh Seck Tian was the chief shroff of the Electric Tramway Co. (Singapore Tramway Co. ) Koh Seck Tian came from a family who have settled in Malacca for 6 generations, and he was born in Malacca before coming to Singapore to study at the Raffles Institute and speaks English proficiently. His father, Koh Seng Hoon, was a successful merchant. In January 1885, the Straits Chinese started the first club ever by Chinese adopting English outdoor sports at Hong Lim Green. It was called the Straits Chinese Recreational Club (SCRC) and its founders were Koh Tiong Yan, Koh Seck Tian, Chia Keng Chin, Tan Chew Kim and Ong Kim Cheow. The first pavilion was octagonal in shape and used to stand right in the centre of the playing-field before it was changed in 1914. Koh Tiong Yang was a left-handed cricketer and tennis-player. When SCRC had its first competitions, Koh Tiong Yan was its first tennis champion. Koh Seck Tian passed away on 17th March 1925 at Singara, Siam.
Grandmother: Tong Kwai Neo
Madam Tong Kwai Neo, mother of Koh Sek Tian and grandmother of Koh Teong Yang passed away at the age of 74 on 4th October 1909 at her residence in Teluk Ayer Street, Singapore. She was buried in Malacca.
Brother: Koh Tiong Liat
Koh Tiong Liat, brother of Koh Tiong Yang, passed away on 13th October 1926 at the age of 59 in Malacca.
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| Koh Tiong Yang ( a younger picture compared to the one below) |
Family
With more details surfacing from the descendants of Chua Seng Hock (son of Chua Soon Leong) and from the tombstone of Koh Tiong Yang, i am able to slowly map the family members listed in the picture below courtesy of Cathie Chua (a descendant of Chua Seng Hock). The lady beside Madam Ong Chit Bee is likely to be Madam Koh Choo Leng. (But because i am uncertain yet, i left those unidentified unnamed for now). |
| Koh Tiong Yang family picture (photo courtesy of Cathie Chua) |
Son: Koh Yew Keng / Koh Yew Keng, Vincent
Koh Yew Keng is listed as the only son of Mr and Mrs. Koh Tiong Yang. From newspaper archives, Koh Yew Keng was a very active badminto sportsman and 126 Chin Swee Road was the hotbed for many meetings, including the Annual General meeting for the Amateur Athletic Union, Captain for the Rovers Badminton Party. Koh Yew Keng was a Honorary Secretary for the Singapore Badminton Association. Koh Yew Keng married Chan Jim Neo, Monica. Vincent Koh Yew Keng passed away on 27 July 2006. Chan Jim Neo, Monica passed away at the age of 87 on 28 March 1997. She is survived by her husband, Koh Yew Keng, Vincent and 5 sons; Augustine Koh, Lawrence Koh, Edmund Koh, Kevin Koh and Gregory Koh, 2 daughters; Rita Koh and Margaret Koh, 5 daughter-in-laws, 2 son-in-laws, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
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| Vincent Koh Yew Keng (source: NewspaperSG) |
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| Chan Jim Neo, Monica (source: NewspaperSG) |
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| source: NewspaperSG |
Daughter: Koh Geok Choo
Koh Geok Choo married Chua Seng Hock (a son of Mr and Mrs. Chua Soon Leong)
Madam Koh Geok Choo passed away on September, 1980. From the obituary notice, we can see the names of their children; sons: Chua Peng Swee, Chua Peng Guan, Chua Chye Soon, Chua Boon Hor, Chua Kwee Yang. Daughters: Rose Chua, Lily Chua, Chua Bok Lan, Chua Lye Neo; Sons-in-laws: Chan Boon Hock, Stephen Lai, Francis Heng, Ho Boon Ann. Daughters-in-laws: Lim Soon Ai, Cecilia Chua, Ng Sai Hong, Phang Mui Keow, Koh Ah Gek. The cortege left from 31 Ripley Crescent. Her husband, Chua Seng Hock passed away at the age of 58 at his residence in No 126 Chin Swee Road on 8th July 1949.
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| Koh Geok Choo |
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| Mr and Mrs Chua Seng Hock and family (photo courtesy of Cathie Chua) |
Grandson: Edmund Koh Bee Sai
Edmund Koh Bee Sai married Agnes Chan Gek Neo (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chan Kok Quan) on 27 January 1963.
Grand-daughter: Rita Koh
An engagement notice (23 January 1954) between Rita Koh (eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs. Koh Yew Keng) and Philip Gan (youngest son of the late Mr. Gan Khek Kheng and Mrs. Helen Gan). The wedding took place on 14 April 1956. From this articles, we can gather than Helen Gan nee Helen See is the daughter of Mr and Mrs. See Tiong Wah. For more information on the family linkage, refer to my article written on See Tiong Wah and family (Bukit Brown)
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| Philip Gan and Rita Koh (source:NewspaperSG) |
Grand-daughter: Margaret Koh
Margaret Koh (daughter of Mr & Mrs. Koh Yew Keng) was engaged to William Harpur, son of Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Harpur. They got married on 26 December 1958. (Note: to be verified)
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| Margaret Koh and William Harpur (source: NewspaperSG) |
Koh Seck Chuan passed away on 22 April 1922 at No 56 Hereen Street, Malacca at the age of 82. He is survived by his 2 sons, Koh Tiong Yang and Koh Tiang Liat, 3 daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren to mourn his loss. Koh Seck Chuan is buried in Padang-Jambu burial ground.
Uncle: Koh Seck Tian
Koh Seck Tian was the chief shroff of the Electric Tramway Co. (Singapore Tramway Co. ) Koh Seck Tian came from a family who have settled in Malacca for 6 generations, and he was born in Malacca before coming to Singapore to study at the Raffles Institute and speaks English proficiently. His father, Koh Seng Hoon, was a successful merchant. In January 1885, the Straits Chinese started the first club ever by Chinese adopting English outdoor sports at Hong Lim Green. It was called the Straits Chinese Recreational Club (SCRC) and its founders were Koh Tiong Yan, Koh Seck Tian, Chia Keng Chin, Tan Chew Kim and Ong Kim Cheow. The first pavilion was octagonal in shape and used to stand right in the centre of the playing-field before it was changed in 1914. Koh Tiong Yang was a left-handed cricketer and tennis-player. When SCRC had its first competitions, Koh Tiong Yan was its first tennis champion. Koh Seck Tian passed away on 17th March 1925 at Singara, Siam.
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| Koh Seck Tian |
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| Members of the Straits Chinese Recreation Club |
Madam Tong Kwai Neo, mother of Koh Sek Tian and grandmother of Koh Teong Yang passed away at the age of 74 on 4th October 1909 at her residence in Teluk Ayer Street, Singapore. She was buried in Malacca.
Brother: Koh Tiong Liat
Koh Tiong Liat, brother of Koh Tiong Yang, passed away on 13th October 1926 at the age of 59 in Malacca.
Location of tomb
Koh Tiong Yang's tomb is at Hill 4 Division C, plot 187. (very close to Lornie Highway)
[research on-going]
Variant Names
Koh Tiong Yang also refers to Koh Teong Yang
Koh Seck Tian also refers to Koh Sek Tian
Koh Yew Keng also refers to Koh Yew Keng, Vincent and Vincent Koh Yew Keng
Gan Khek Keng also refers to Gan Khek Kheng
Advertisement. (1918, December 13). The Singapore Free Press, page 3
Death. (1922, April 25). The Straits Times, page 8
Death. (1938, January 8). Malayan Tribune, page 10
Advertisement. (1954, January 23). The Singapore Free Press, page 10
A weekend wedding in the colony. (1956, April 15). The Straits Times, page 3
Boxing Day Weddings in Singapore (1958, December 27). The Straits Times, page 7
Advertisement. (1963, January 27). The Straits Times, page 17
Obituary. (1997, March 29). The Straits Times, page 38
Obituary. (2006, August 1). The Straits Times, page 12
Gan Khek Keng and Mary See (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials
Song, Ong Siang. One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore. Ed. Edwin Lee. Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1984.
Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (1989). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Graham Brash
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| Koh Tiong Yang tomb at Hill 4 Section C |
[research on-going]
Variant Names
Koh Tiong Yang also refers to Koh Teong Yang
Koh Seck Tian also refers to Koh Sek Tian
Koh Yew Keng also refers to Koh Yew Keng, Vincent and Vincent Koh Yew Keng
Gan Khek Keng also refers to Gan Khek Kheng
References
Death. (1909, October 4). The Straits Times, page 6Advertisement. (1918, December 13). The Singapore Free Press, page 3
Death. (1922, April 25). The Straits Times, page 8
Death. (1938, January 8). Malayan Tribune, page 10
Advertisement. (1954, January 23). The Singapore Free Press, page 10
A weekend wedding in the colony. (1956, April 15). The Straits Times, page 3
Boxing Day Weddings in Singapore (1958, December 27). The Straits Times, page 7
Advertisement. (1963, January 27). The Straits Times, page 17
Obituary. (1997, March 29). The Straits Times, page 38
Obituary. (2006, August 1). The Straits Times, page 12
Gan Khek Keng and Mary See (website). Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials
Song, Ong Siang. One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore. Ed. Edwin Lee. Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1984.
Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (1989). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Graham Brash
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