Feb 1936 - E G Taggard - Jimmie with Topeka Cafe

I've copied this letter to King from E.G. Taggard since it was typed and legible.   He mentioned a Jimmie and Henry in Topeka.  Were they with the China Inn?  I remember at least one trip to Topeka with the family (maybe before the Kansas Turnpike was built) and Diane Ma says there's definitely a connection.  I like the mention of the White Horse Scotch.

1936 - 2 letters written by King

1936

Dear Lucille [Mardock, a cousin in Tyler, Texas]

I have wrote you a letter about four week ago.  I suppose you received the letter.  Now I am stay at old village in the new house on second floor from room at the [?] side window.  Please see the photo [don’t have the actual photo he sent, but below is how the house looked new].  
The new house my mamma build it cost about nine thousand dollars Chinese money.

[and on the back side of the  letter to Lucille]

Dear

Thought I’d drop you a few lines to try and send it by the China Clipper in [my] second trip on her way return from Macau China.

I am stay at the interior country.  No electric light, no radio, a fine motor car.  Road bad inconvenience for every thing.  I prepare to take the trip to Canton City and Hong Kong.  I will stay a few weeks and back home again about few months.  I will go back to the U.S.A. about October.  Please answer.  Best wishes.

                                                                                                Your friend
                                                                                                        Mar King
                                                                                                        c/o Mo Do Drug Store, Baksha, Toysan

How Dad, Chin Wee, Got His Name

Notes about Chin Wee's name that were assembled by Kim, Don and Gene, Jan 7, 1996.  Explanations (indented) of paper sons are from Benson Tong (American Paper Son).

He was the “paper son” of “Wee Chin.”   [not sure if this is Lee Chin or Wee Chin]

“Chin” was Dad’s uncle-in-law, though the uncle-in-law’s real family name was “Lee.”

Papers said Lee/Chin was a U.S. born citizen and had four sons.

Many Chinese brought to the U.S. by a General Lee during the Mexican-American War.

Ever since the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, only the exempt classes (merchants, diplomats, teachers, students, and travelers) could enter the United States.  The entry of Chinese laborers was barred. 

Because of the Chinese Exclusion laws and the loss of birth records in the San Francisco earthquake, many Chinese immigrants claimed to be descendants of native borns.  

The earthquake destroyed the county courthouse then the rapidly moving fire burned all of the birth certificate records.  Any Chinese who could bring two witnesses (Chinese witnesses were acceptable) to verify that they were native born were issued a birth certificate stating their native-born status.  As native borns, they would not be subjected to the rigorous system that force merchants to maintain their mercantile establishments or risk being deported from the country, and not forced to provide detailed information about their business, families in China and the United States, and testimonies from non-Chinese witnesses.  Such onerous paperwork was repeated during each trip abroad.

By early 20^th century, Chinese Americans discovered that U.S. laws granted derivative or statutory U.S. citizenship to children of native-born citizen fathers (but not mothers).  U.S. citizens of Chinese ancestry exploited this by reporting the birth of their children to the authorities in order to create “slots” that could be sold to those who were not their sons.

Lee Chin claimed he was native born.

Papers said Dad was the second son of Lee Chin.

Draft board reversed the name order; made “Wee” the family name and “Chin” the given name.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Dad asked to be a naturalized citizen.  The request was denied since he already was a citizen.

Other paper sons of Lee Chin:

• Chin Hong was listed as the first son who also served in the U.S. Army with Chin Wee.
• Chin On was listed as the third son.
• Chin Jeng would have been the fourth son, but the paper was never used.

King Mar in "American Paper Son"

The initial idea of The King and Me was to transcribe the many letters in a folder King had saved.  While many of the letters are repetitive (yes, it was cold in February, and yes, they missed King at the Pan American), as topics cropped up I needed to find out about who some of the key people were.  I also needed to fill in details of locations and people I personally knew plus a bit of historical context (Alf Landon's bid for the U.S. presidency and the rise of Wichita as the Air Capital of the World during and after World War II).  So far, most helpful have been two books and the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum.

Reported earlier, Julian MarDock's family biography "The First of Many" made sense of all the letters coming our kin in Tyler,Texas.  My copy of that books was signed by the author, Julian MarDock.  Kim had sent me that book as a gift.

A second book is Wayne Wong's "American Paper Son."  He and his Dad worked at the Pan American and King is mentioned in greater detail than in "The First of Many."  I'm still trying to figure out if the King Mar Family is related to Wayne Wong's.  Wayne's book initial draft needed considerable help and editing from Benson Tong, a Wichita State University professor, who added a lot of the historical facts and included the topic of racial discrimination which Wayne initially did not mention.

The first time I read "American Paper Son" several years ago, I skimmed over Wayne's family tree and just read his life story and noting anything connected with the King.  

Before this E-blog and finally taking an interest in our family tree, my eyes glossed over whenever talking about names and family relationships.  Part of that that reluctance was since childhood trying to understand the Chinese names and the Chinese way of identifying relatives and translating into English plus who was who when paper son names were used.  Growing up Mom and Dad were hesitant to go into too much detail.

Kim and I both misplaced our first copies of the book.  Then I had a need to verify details in the transcribed letters, so I got a new copy on-line.  You can get used copies if you want; try Amazon.

My second reading last month, I charted out his family tree and figured out several Pan American Cafe connections.  Still am working on what connections there might be with King's family. 

Here's one connection.  Wayne came to the U.S. as the paper son of Wong Wing Lock (who's real name was Mar Moy Jing).    OK, I'll use the real name.  Moy Jing's older brother's Chinese name was Mar Tung Jing.  In America he became Henry Mar.  Henry and our King Mar came to the U.S. in June/July 1914 and eventually worked in the Pan American business with other Chinese men.  Henry and King were the only two spoke English and so  they managed the cashier and public relations.  Henry has been mentioned in several of the letters while King was in China in '36.

King Mar and Henry Mar, Dec 1946

 

Letters from Peggy Cannaday and "Egg Foo Young"

Here are two more letters to King.  Now that I've laid some background information, I'll post more letters not in any chronological order, but based on topics.

Peggy Cannady, 1936

Wednesday:-

Dear King:-

Just a few lines to let you know we think of you each day and miss you a lot.  The customers sure miss you and all ask about you.  You had better hurry and come home.

I saw your picture & the picture of your home. Your new home is beautiful.

The girls are all here but Sammie. She is in Arkansas, don’t think she will come back to work.

Jean's husband is back and has a job in a mortuary. She seems very happy.

Thelma is in Trinidad, Colorado, with her old boyfriend.
 Business is good.

Mr. Brown “Egg Fo Young” was in last evening and ask when you would be back.

I will close as I don’t have much time.

Sincerely,
       Hope you are well,
       Peggy [Cannady]

R-H Brown (Egg Fo Young), Feb 8, 1936

                                                                                                U.S.A.
                                                                                                        2/8/36

Dear King,

Your letter arrived yesterday & glad to hear from you & know you had a nice trip.

I sure do thank you for writing, for it is the first letter I ever received from China. I was in Wichita last week & it is not the same restaurant since you left. You have better hurry back & take care of things.

Weather here has been very cold – Even here in Okla City Okla the temperature went below 0° yesterday.  It is warmer today. Well King, Bye for now & give my best regards to your people & tell them to let me hear from them soon when you are back here in U.S.A.

So a safe trip back to United States to you.

                                                                                                Sincerely – your Friend
                                                                                                        R-H Brown
                                                                                                         (Egg Fo Young)

608 N.W. 33^rd
       Oklahoma City

Christmas and music

Christmas Day - There was a nice TV documentary on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It HAS been along time since I was in a choir. They sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic (the Gould arrangement) - how I liked that piece! These days it is hard to carry a tune. But, like riding a bicycle I hope you don't forget and some day, given the opportunity, I can sing in a chorus. One of the latter songs on the program was "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing". Mom used to sing that and is a favorite hymn of mine. I thought it was of Scottish background, but is an American melody (Shaker?).
Anyway, it brought back memories of Mom, Don my brother who loved to sing, my youth and a past now long ago.
It was nice to reminisce.