Koh Kong Wee (Bukit Brown)

Koh Kong Wee worked for Sisson & Delay (1930). Beyond that i have little information about him Fortunately from his tomb in Bukit Brown, his name and the province of his ancestral home matches the tomb of Mrs Koh Sek Lim nee Madam Ang Chit Yan, and that allowed me to deduce that Koh Kong Wee is the son of towkay Koh Sek Lim whose namesake road still exist. Koh Kong Wee passed away on 22nd December 1949 at the age of 56. On his tomb are listed the name of his daughters, Koh Keow Neo, Koh Hock Neo, Koh ? Choo, Koh Huat Neo. 

In August 1933, there was an engagement notice between Koh Kong Wee (eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Koh Sek Lim) and Miss Tan Kiam Neo (eight daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Tan Leong Hong). There is a marble inscription prepared for his wife, Madam Tan Kiam Neo (however the death date was not listed and likely she is not buried here). Madam Tan Kiam Neo nee Mrs Koh Kong Wee indeed was not buried in Bukit Brown because she passed away on passed away on 1 March, 1988 at the age of 88.

Madam Tan Kiam Neo

Father: Koh Sek Lim (1864-1948)
Koh Sek Lim is a Hokkien, who came down from Malacca as a youth and was said to have work in bicycle repairs. He saved money to purchase property where he rented it out and also land, where he planted coconuts and rubber. His estate was said to stretch from Bedok Road to areas where Singapore Expo, the East MRT depot and the New Water plant is. Later, part of his estates was used as sand pits where sand was mined and used in Singapore's building industry. There was also an interesting article in the Singapore Free Press dated September 25, 1912 of Koh Sek Lim and sons cutting their towchangs or queue at his residence called "Raffles House" at 456 Geylang Road. Mr. Koh Sek Lim whose legacy is remembered by two road named after him, Koh Sek Lim Road and Xilin Avenue passed away in 1948 (exact date unknown as yet). 

[Post article update: 21/6/2023] Kok Sek Lim passed away on 20 August 1948 at the age of 80.

Niche of Koh Sek Lim 
(photo courtesy of LoSongs)

Mother: Madam Ang Chit Yan (Mrs. Koh Sek Lim)
Madam Ang Chit Yan passed away at her residence Gulega Bedoh Estate, No 655-17, Padang Terbakar, Bedoh (Bedok) at 10:15 pm on Friday, 12th November 1937 at the age of 65. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Koh Sek Lim, 14 sons (Koh Kong Wee, Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong Hor, Koh Kong Thian and 5 others, 5 daughters-in-law, (Mrs. Koh Kong Wee, Mrs. Koh Kong Wan. Mrs. Koh Kong Seng, Mrs. Koh Kong Sun, Mrs, Koh Kong Hor, 10 daughters, 4 son-in-laws ( Yeo Eng Tiong, Wee Swee Seng, Lim Teck Seng, Lim Eng Yong and 30 grandchildren).

On her tombstones, the complete names of the sons and daughters include:
Sons: Koh Kong Wee, Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong Hor, Koh Kong Thian, Koh Kong Choo, Koh Kong Boo, Koh Kong Eng, Koh Kong Liang, Koh Kong Ann
Daughters: Koh Twa Nia, Koh Sah Nia, Koh Seet Nia, Koh Luk Nia, Koh Pek Nia, Koh Kow Nia, Koh Chup Nia, Koh Chup Itt Nia, Koh Chup Jee Nia, Koh Kong Neo
Grandson: Harry Koh
Grand-daughter: Rosy Koh, Daisy Koh, Merry Koh, Maggie Koh.

Madam Ang Chit Yan is buried in Bukit Brown, Hill 4 Section C plot no. 80.

Land Acquisition and Land use
325 acres of land was acquired by the government from Public Trustees of the estate of Koh Sek Lim in 1954 for $750,000 for resettlement and development. Despite that, there was still land held in trust. In 1957, the Public Trustees called for a tender to invite bidders to pluck 20,000 coconuts from the estate.

Koh Sek Lim Road

Location of tomb
Koh Kong Wee is buried in Hill 1 Division A, 35-A, 36 A

Tomb of Mr. Koh Kong Wee in Bukit Brown

References

Engagement. (1933, August 20). Sunday Tribune, page 2