Chun Mooey Leong

WITNESS and SISTER: Duly sworn (Testifies in English)

Q.  What is your name?
A.  Mrs. Sun Kow, Chun Mooey Leong and Sin Young Kee

Q.  How old are you and when were you born?
A.  Thirty-eight, born in April 17, 1891 at Madera, California

Q.  Were you born right in the town of Madera, California?
A.  I was born right in the town.

Q.  For what purpose are you appearing here today?
A.  I am appearing as a witness in behalf of my son Davis Sun Kow who is an applicant for a return certificate as a native born citizen of the United States and also as a witness in behalf of my sister Mrs. Chan Toy who is an applicant for a return certificate as a native born citizen of the United States.

Q.  Have you ever had ayour nativity determined by the immigration service?
A.  No.

Q.  What evidence, if any, have you to present as to your birth in the United States?
A.  I have an affidavit which was prepared in 1903 when my mother was contemplating making a visit to China and taking me with her.
 

NOTE:

(Presents affidavit prepared in April, 1903 to which is affixed a photograph of the witness which photograph resembles the witness.  Affidavid is endoresed and returned.)

Q.  What are the names of your parents?
A.  My father's name is Yee Chong and Ah Bow, my mother's name is See Chung or Sun Ho.

Q.  Where are your parents at the present time?
A.  MY father is dead and my mother is living with my brother at Isleton at McCarty's ranch.

Q.  When and where did your father die?
A.  In 1902 at Madera.

Q.  What was he doing just before his death?
A.  Farming.

Q.  Where?
A.  About six miles from Madera that was the closest town.

Q.  Did your father ever do anything else besides farm?
A.  He first ran a store and then he went into farming.

Q.  Where did he run a store, was it right in Madera?
A.  No, it was in Borden.

Q.  What was the name of his store?
A.  Yee Chong store.

Q.  How far is Borden from Madera?
A.  I think about three miles?

Q.  Do you have recollection of your father being in the Yee Chong store in Borden?
A.  No, I can't I was too young.

Q.  Where are your father's remains buried?
A.  At Madera around Borden.

Q.  In what cemetery were his remains buried?
A.  In a Chinese cemetery.

Q.  Did you ever visit that cemetery with your mother?
A.  Yes.

Q.  How many brothers and sisters have you?
A.  Five brothers, one sister.

Q.  Name your brothers and sisters giving their place of birth and dates of birth?
A.  Leong Quan You, age 40, born December 21, 1889 in the town of Madera.
    Next is myself.
    Leong Quan Chew, age 36, born Oct. 3, 1893 in the town of Madera.
    Leong Tung Lin, age 34, born December 25, 1895 on a ranch near Madera.
    Leong Quan Sam, age 32, January 10, 1897, on a ranch near Madera.
    Leong Quan Bing, age 29, born Jan. 10, 1900, on a ranch near Madera.
    Leong Quan Look, age 25, born July 26, on a ranch near Madera.

Q.  How many of your brothers and sisters are married?
A.  One brother and one sister married.
 

NOTE:

(Rest of the examination conducted thru Acting Chinese Interpreter.)

Q.  What is the name of your brother who is married?
A.  Leong Quan You.

Q.  To whom is he married and when did he marry?
A.  To Low Look many years ago, I don't remember the exact date of his marriege, he has a boy 14.

Q.  Where was he married?
A.  In San Francisco.

Q.  About how long were they married before this child was born?
A.  One year I think.

Q.  Then if they were married about a year before this boy was born and he is fourteen years of age can you not state about when they were married?
A.  I think in 1913 or 1914.

Q.  To whom is you sister married and when was she married?
A.  She is married to Chin Tai Oy, I think it was 1912 when they were married.

Q.  Wjere does your mother reside at the present time?
A.  Isleton.

Q.  When did she move from Madera to Isleton?
A.  They moved from Madera to San Francisco and then from San Francisco to Isleton.

Q.  Do you know when they moved from San Francisco to Madera?
A.  No, I don't.

Q.  Where were you residing when they moved from Madera to San Francisco?
A.  I was in Coulterville.

Q.  How far is Coulterville from Madera?
A.  About fifty miles or more.

Q.  Didn't your mother let you know when she moved from Madera to San Francisco?
A.  I think it was about 1910.

Q.  How long did your mother reside in San Francisco before moving to Isleton?
A.  I think she was there about three years.

Q.  Who moved with her from Madera to San Francisco?
A.  I don't know that.

Q.  Do you know whether all of her children besides you moved with her to San Francisco from Madera?
A.  I think they all went with her but Leong Quan Chew and myself.

Q.  Did you ever visit them while they were living in San Francisco?
A.  Yes, when my sister was married was the only time.

Q.  Where did they live in San Francisco?
A.  I don't know.

Q.  How many ranches did you live on in Madera before you were married?
A.  Two.

Q.  What ranches were those?
A.  The first one was Dorn's and the next one was the Emma Ranch.

Q.  Did your family move to any other ranches after you were married?
A.  I don't know that.

Q.  Where did you go to school?
A.  To the Howell country school.

Q.  Did you attend school with your brothers and sisters?
A.  With my sisters and two brothers.

Q.  With what brothers did you attend school?
A.  Leong Quan Chew and Quan Sam.

Q.  What teacher did you have?
A.  The first one I had was a man teacher, Mr. Conner and next I Bailey and those are all the teachers I had there.

Q.  Can you recall the names of some of the pupils with whom you attended school other than hyour brothers and sisters?
A.  Yes, Helen Footman and her sister Bertha, it has been so long that I can't remember some of them - a girl named Helen Whitehead also attend with me.

Q.  Who was your nearest neighbor while you lived on the Dorn ranch?
A.  Osborne.

Q.  Did they have any children?
A.  They had children, I don't know their names.

Q.  Did you always live with the man and women to whom you have referred as your father and mother from the time you can remember up until the death of your alleged father?
A.  Yes.

Q.  Where are your brothers residing at the present time?
A.  Leong Quan You, the oldest one resides at Ryde on the Shelly Ranch and my other four brothers all reside on the McCarty ranch near Isleton.

Q.  How long have the four brothers to whom you refer resided on the McCarty ranch?
A.  Since 1922.

Q.  Do they own that ranch or rent it?
A.  Rent it.

Q.  Does your mother reside on that ranch with them?
A.  Now, yes.

Q.  What is your husband's name, occupation and address?
A.  Sun Kow, he is a farmer residing near Isleton.

Q.  When and where were you married?
A.  In Fresno in 1907.

Q.  Have you any children?
A.  Yes five.

Q.  Name your children giving their birth places, dates of birth and present whereabouts?
A.  All of my children are living with me.  Their names and ages are
    Minnie Sun Kow, age 22, born December 7, 1907, at Coulterville, Calif.,
    Florence Sun Kow, age 19, born June 2, 1910 at Coulterville;
    Grace Sun Kow age 17, born March 22, 1912, at Coulterville;
    Davis Sun Kow, age 15, born January 20, 1914, at Coulterville;
    Dorothy Sun Kow, age 9, born March 12, 1919 at Coulterville.

Q.  Your son Davis Sun Kow is an applicant for a return certificate as a native born citizen of the United States, with whom does he expect to go to China?
A.  With my sister, Mrs. Chin Tai Oy.

Q.  Where does your son, the applicant, reside now?
A.  At Isleton.

Q.  What doctor attended you at the time of his birth?
A.  Dr. Davis.

Q.  Have you a birth certificate for the applicant?
A.  Yes.
 

NOTE:

(File No. 12017/36341 contains birth certificate of the applicant)

Q.  What was your husband doing in Coulterville?
A.  He had a store.

Q.  What was the name of his store?
A.  The Sun Sun Wah.

Q.  Were you married according to ther Chinese custom or according to the American custom?
A.  According to the Chinese custom.

Q.  In what kind of business was your husband engaged in Coulterville?
A.  American groceries.

Q.  When did the applicant begin going to school and where?
A.  In 1921 at Isleton.

Q.  How far advanced is he in school?
A.  He is in the eighth grade.

Q.  Do you know the name of the first teacher he had?
A.  Mr. Drake.

Q.  Has the applicant always lived with you and your husband?
A.  Yes.

Q.  Did you ever have any children who died?
A.  Yes, one child, the second one, it was a stillborn.

Q.  Does the applicant follow any employment during vacation?
A.  He helps on the ranch.

Q.  Have you resided at the same place all of the time since you have been in Isleton?
A.  Yes.

Q.  Are all of your children attending school?
A.  Yes.

Q.  Are any of your children married?
A.  No.

Q.  Have any of your children ever been seriously sick?
A.  No.

Q.  Has your husband any brothers and sisters?
A.  I think he said he had two brothers.

Q.  Do either of them reside in the United States?
A.  No, neither of them reside in the United States.

Q.  Are there any further statements you desire to make?
A.  No.

Q.  Have understood the Interpreter?
A.  Yes.

Q.  And have you understood the questions you have been asked in English?
A.  Yes
 

BK #13401 Pg's 112-115

End