Ong Chip Joo and family (Seh Ong Cemetery)

Ong Chip Joo passed away on 27th May 1953 at the age of 53 at 12 Kim Yam Road. He leaves behind his widow, 5 sons; Ong Yat Bee, Ong Hock Bee, Ong Chuan Bee, Ong Kiat Bee, Ong Peng Bee, 3 daughters, Ong Kiew Neo, Ong Joey Neo, and Ong Koon Neo. His wife, Mary Tan Bong Neo passed away on 24th August 1958 at the age of 57 at 15-B Stangee Place. She leaves behind 5 sons; Ong Yat Bee, Ong Hock Bee, Ong Chuan Bee, Ong Kiat Bee, Ong Peng Bee, 3 daughters; Ong Kiew Neo, Ong Joey Neo, and Ong Koon Neo, 1 son-in-law, 2 daughters-in-law and 3 grandchildren. The cortege left to Queen of Peace Church and then to Ong's burial ground.

Ong Chip Joo and Mary Tan Bong Neo 

Family 

Grandfather: Ong Ewe Hai / Kapitan Ong Ewe Hai of Kuching (1830-1889)
Ong Ewe Hai was born in February 1830 in Singapore. His father, Ong Koon Thian passed away when Ong Ewe Hai was 7 years old and with only his widowed mother bringing up a family of 6 (3 boys and 3 girls), Ong Ewe Hai had to grow up fast and grew up fast he did, cutting his teeth doing odd jobs and doing petty trade. Together with Lim Eng Moh, they left for Sarawak and guess correctly what was needed by the locals there and provided the necessary merchandise from Singapore that will sell well in Sarawak and became a successful trader. Ong Ewe Hai & Co. maintained it extensive business relations with Sarawak and acts as agents for the Sarawak and Singapore Steamship Co. Ltd. Rajah Charles appointed him as his Chinese Affairs advisor and later Kapitan China. Ong Ewe Hai built his residence, "Bonny Grass" in River Valley Road but he passed away before its completion. Ong Ewe Hai passed away on 9th June 1889 at the age of 60.  He was survived by 17 children and was buried in his estate off Bukit Timah Road behind Holland Road railway station, where his wife is also buried. 

Ong Ewe Hai 

Father: Ong Tiang Soon (1855-1934)

Ong Tiang Soon is the eldest son of Ong Ewe Hai. Following in his father's footsteps, he traded in rice and general produce, and was a merchant and steamship agent under the style of Soon Whatt and Soon Chiang at North Bridge Road. The firm were agents for the Sarawak and Singapore Steamship Company (steamers; Raja of Sarawak & Kuching). Rice was sent to Borneo and in return, pepper, gambier, rubber, sago flour and rattan were brought in. Ong Tiang Soon residence is "Bonny Grass", 100 River Valley Road. (see below for more information). Ong Tiang Soon passed away at his residence, No 12 Kim Yam Road on 30 October 1934 at the age of 80. The cortege left from No. 12 Kim Yam Road for the family Burial Ground at Boon Teck Road.
Ong Tiang Soon is the father of:
9 sons; Messrs. Ong Leng Hoon, Ong Hood Hin, Ong Chip Hee, Ong Beow Sim, Ong Chip Yan, Ong Chip Hong, Ong Chip Joo, Ong Joo Chin and Ong Soo Keng. 
5 daughters; Ong Yan Lin Neo, Ong Yan Gay Neo, Ong Yan Ho Neo, Ong Chim Kay Neo, Ong Yan Lip Neo
5 sons-in-laws; Tan Kwee Liang, Tan Teng Ann, Tay Teng Hup, Soh Yiew Jin, Dr. Thung Siang Swee,
9 daughters-in-law, 48 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Ong Tiang Soon

Ong Tiang Soon and his children

Uncle: Ong Soon Tee (1871-1946)

Ong Soon Tee took over his father's business together with his brother Ong Tiang Soon, after their father passed away. Ong Soon Tee was appointed Justice of Peace (J.P) by the Straits Settlement government in 1915. Ong Soon Tee was also in the board of directors of Eastern United Assurance Corporation Limited in 1926 at a time where See Teong Wah and Gaw Khek Khiam was the Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively. By 1936 he was the Chairman of the company. He also had businesses in tin mining and  bought various properties as well. Ong Soon Tee is buried in Bukit Brown. 

Mr. Ong Soon Tee

Brother: Ong Leng Hoon
Ong Leng Hoon passed away on 3rd October 1940 at the age of 63. He leaves behind 2 wives and two sons, Ong Kee Bee and Ong Chan Bee. He is buried in in the family burial ground. (Mr. Ong Leng Hoon married the daughter of Mr. Chia Ann Liew).

Ong Leng Hoon 

Brother: Ong Hood Hin
Ong Hood Hin passed away at the age of 76 on 22nd July 1957 at his residence, 313 Upper East Coast Road, leaving behind his only son, Ong Cheng Bee, 1 daughter-in-law and 7 grandchildren. He is buried in Senh Ong Burial Ground. (One of Mr. Ong Hood Hin's wife is the eldest daughter of the Tan Jiak Kim. She passed away at the age of 26). 

Brother: Ong Ghee Chiang

Ong Ghee Chiang, the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Ong Tiang Soon passed away at the age of 43 on 21 February 1928 at No. 12 Martin Lane. He leaves behind a widow and 3 daughters. As he predecease his father, his name was not listed in the obituary notice of Ong Tiang Soon. Ong Ghee Chiang was buried in Ong Burial Ground (but subsequently claim by his descendants as tomb was affected by the highway).

Bonny Grass

The family home of Ong Tiang Soon in 100 River Valley Road (later 12 Kim Yam Road) was well documented and from the images below, one can get a sense of its grandeur, starting with the plans by Ong Ewe Hai in 1889, to the plans for Ong Tiang Soon, 1908 and 1910 (revised) by architect, Chua Chang Kiat. The building was demolished and in its place currently is the Pacific Mansion Condominium (8 River Valley Cl, Singapore 238432), sits in its place. 

Front Elevation of "Bonny Grass"

1899 plan (source: National Archives)

1908 plan for "Bonny Grass" (source: National Archives)

1910 revised plan for "Bonny Grass" (source: National Archives)

Location of Bonny Grass (source: National Archives)

Sarawak Villa

Sarawak Villa was another beautiful home. It was said to be once the residence for Ong Hood Hin and located at 313 Upper East Coast Road (later re-numbered to 320 Upper East Coast Road as seen in the picture below). 

Sarawak Villa in the 1960's (source: National Archives)

Sarawak Villa (close-up ) (source: PictureSG) 

398 Telok Kurau

This 1914 building at 398 Telok Kurau, off Marine Parade Road was touted as the Seaside Bungalow for Mr Ong Tiang Soon. The single-storey raised bungalow features a covered, columned porch, behind which is a covered verandah. The date "1914" can be seen on the roof gable. We are very fortunate to be able to see this photos with thanks to the Lee Kip Lin collection. 

398 Telok Kurau (source: PictureSG)

Location of tomb

The tomb of Ong Chip Joo and Mary Tan Bong Neo is located at Seh Ong Cemetery / Ong Burial Ground (closer to the SICC side).

Ong Chip Joo and Mary Tan Bong Neo

[research on-going] 

References

Death. (1934, October 31). The Straits Times, page 10. (Accessed from NewspaperSG)
Deaths. (1952, May 28). The Straits Times, page 6. (Accessed from NewspaperSG)

Deaths. (1958, August 25). The Straits Times, page 6. (Accessed from NewspaperSG)

Chinese pioneers of Sarawak (website). James Ritchie, New Sarawak Tribune. 

One Hundred Years' History Of The Chinese In Singapore: The Annotated Edition.(2020)

by Ong Siang Song (Author), Kevin Y L Tan (Editor), G Uma Devi (Editor), Bak Lim Kua (Editor), Stephanie Pee (Contributor).

Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources editor in chief: Arnold Wright, assistant editor: H. A. Cartwright. London, Durban, Colombo, Perth (W. A.), Singapore, Hongkong, and Shanghai, Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, limited, 1908.  (Available online)

Dwelling Houses. (website). Maps and Buildings Plan. National Archives Singapore. 

Plan of Singapore Town Showing Topographical Detail and Municipal Numbers. (website). Maps and Buildings Plan. National Archives Singapore. 

Facebook conversation-Sarawak Villa connection. (website). Heritage-Singapore. Bukit Brown. 

Ong Chip Joo and Tan Bong Neo. (website).Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录