1839 - 1842 - The First Opium War between China and the British Empire. China's loss would greatly weaken the political stability of the region, and lower the quality of life for the villagers. Hong Kong became a British colony.
1849 - Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, CA, triggering an international gold rush. 1850 - 1864 - Taiping Rebellion This was fought in neighboring Guangxi Provence, but was the beginning of the end of the Qing dynasty Chow King's grandfather, Chow Nung Yeung travels to Gold Mountain 1856 - 1860 - The Second Opium War rages in Guangdong. The Emperor was forced to flee Beijing, resulting in even more political instability, and poverty for the Pearl River delta. Kowloon was ceded to the British. 1869 - May 10 Transcontinental Railroad completed. 1876 - August 26 Chow King Leong is born to Chow Kwong Chui and Lau Shee, in Lozhou village, Shunde county, Guangdong Province. He is the number 3 son of thirteen children. 1879 - Wing Him, Chow King's oldest number one brother leaves for Gold Mountain. He lives with his uncle, Chow Kroong Hung, in San Jose. It would be fifteen years before he returns 1882 - Lau Yung is born to an elderly man of the Haw Village and his third wife. May 6 The Chinese Exclusion Act, a US federal law, was signed by Chester Arthur, the 21st president of the United States. The effect was to freeze most Chinese immigration, and what little immigration remained was the result of smuggling or deception. It also denied the Chinese who did get in, from becoming citizens. All Chinese residents, citizen or not, were required to have a "certificate of residence" proving their legality. It would not be repealed until the US and China became allies in 1943, but significant immigration did not resume until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. 1894 - December - Chow King and Lau Yung are married in Lozhou village, China. They would not consummate the marriage for another 15 years. Wing Him, Chow King's oldest number one brother, returns home from Gold Mountain. Cumberland Missionary is established in San Francisco Chinatown Bubonic Plague outbreak in Guanzhou 1895 - Chow King makes his first attempt to depart for America, using the falsified documents of Leong Moon. He is rebuffed in this attempt when he tries to append his real surname to the surname of Leong. 1897 - Nov 17 - Chow King Leong arrives, as Leong Moon, at the port of San Francisco, aboard the SS City of Rio de Janeiro. He goes to work for H. William and Co. 1899 - Cumberland Missionary School starts night classes. Chow King would attend these classes. Tung Wah Dispensary opens in Chinatown. It would later become Chinese Hospital 1904 - Chow King becomes the manager and owner of H. William and Co. purchasing it from Dong Hin Cumberland Missionary becomes Cumberland Church. Chow King is one of the first members 1906 - April 18th 5:12am, a Wednesday. San Francisco Earthquake. Chow King takes refuge in Oakland CA 1909 - June Chow King returns to China aboard the SS Manchuria, to fetch his wife. Dec 17 Chow King and Lau Shee arrive in San Francisco aboard the Tenyo Maru. They bring a paper son, Wing Yew. They move to 1103 Stockton St. 1910 - August 7 7:30pm Willie is born Angel island Interrogation Station opens 1911 - Qing Dynasty is overthrown and the republic of China is established Chinatown YMCA is formed June 2 7:30am Harry is born 1914 - Chow Kroong Hung, Uncle number 4 dies and is buried in Colma World War I breaks out in Europe August 1 11:15pm Amy is born 1916 - June 28 Annie is born 1918 - March 23 5:55am Alice is born 1919 - June 28 4:05am Lee is born 1922 - September 22 7:00am Andrew is born 1923 - Chinese Hospital Association is formed. Fifteen founding members begin raising money for the new hospital. Chow king is one of the fifteen. 1924 - Chow King moves his family to 101 Eighth St. in Oakland. For the first time, they are not sharing a bathroom with other relatives. Since it is a duplex, they are still sharing a building. Chow King always believed in letting your property pay for itself and not out of pocket. 1925 - April 18 Chinese Hospital opens its' doors at 835 Jackson Street with 60 beds. 1926 - Chinatown YMCA opens in its' present location at 855 Sacramento Street. 1930 - Aug 2 Family departs for China aboard the Asama Maru 1931 - July 4 Most of the family returns from China aboard the Taiyo Maru. Lee and Andrew are left behind Family moves to 1235 Washington St. 1932 - October 18 Lee and Andrew are called home due to Japanese invasion of Guangzhou. They arrive on the SS President Coolidge 1938 - October 12 - Japanese occupy Guangzhou 1940 - Angel Island Immigration Station closes its' doors. 1941 - Dec 7 Attack on Pearl Harbor. The US enters WWII soon thereafter 1943 - Dec 17th Magnuson Act is signed, making it possible for Chinese nationals to become naturalized citizens. 1945 - Monday Aug 6 Atomic Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima August 15 Japan Surrenders September 16 Japan leaves Guanzhou 1948 - September 20 Chow King Leong begins filing naturalization papers to become a US citizen. It would take several years to complete. 1949 - China becomes The Peoples Republic of China under communist rule 1958 - Janurary 12 - The passing of Lau Shee She is buried in the Chinese Cemetery in Colma August 26 The passing of Chow King Leong. He is buried in the Chinese Cemetery in Colma 1961 - H. William closes its' doors Page First 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 Last Next