Chen Quin Jack

An educated, refined young Chinese man seeking a better life, joins his fellow sojourners, making the perilous journey to Australia. Chinese born Fong Mon How 方文厚 — AKA: Fong Kum Moon 方金滿 — was born in Canton — Shekki, Heung Shan, in 1869. He first arrived in Australia in 1881.

By 1899 Mon How is operating a store in Byron Street Inverell, announced with a series of running advertisements in the local paper The Inverell Times. This advertisement, 29 July 1899 declares the store has just opened.

Mon How was also one of the business partners of the General store Sam Daw & Co in Gunnedah along with Charlie Hing. ² Janis Wilton in Golden Threads³, highlights important relationships of family and business connections and support networks formed via Chinese General Stores. An exemption to the Australian legislation the 1901 Commonwealth Immigration Restriction Act — applied to shop assistants of general stores, enabled them to be one of the few business enterprises able to sponsor the migration of relatives and fellow Chinese from their home villages to Australia.

Looking more closely at partners within a firm can reveal potential connections, as often the partners of a business may be related. A family or village connection may exist with Mon How and Charlie Hing — 郭滿慶 “Kwok Mon Hing”. I have discovered similar family relations within Hop Chong and Co, partners and my Great-G Grandfather Lee Kee Chong.

Mon How integrates into the local Chinese community and soon joins the Wesleyan Methodist church, he appears in a photo of the interior of the Wesleyan Methodist church, in Tingha. Mon How can be seen seated second from the right along with a predominantly Chinese congregation, the minister attending is Reverend Joseph Lee Tear Tack.

Mon How is “… “charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm, by stabbing W. Preston, in Inverell, Thursday, 3 February 1898” In the same newspaper article – “William Preston, on a serious charge, was remanded for eight days. Bail was refused.”

I wonder if William Preston who appears to be a serial offender, of break and enters and theft, may have broken into Mon How’s Store.

It may have been through the store connection or via the church community that Mon How met Ellen Tootong, a skilled dress maker and the daughter of miner William Tootong and Esther Williamson. They marry in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Inverell  23 May 1899. Mary Ann Jack, Ellens half-sister is a witness on the Wedding certificate. Mon How’s father is recorded on the certificate as Kum Loo a School Teacher.

Newly married the couple are living together in Byron street Inverell, in rooms connected to the general store F Mon How. Ellen’s younger sister Sarah is also living with them. Other family members or store employees may also be living on the premises.

Sunday 28 April 1901, A fire breaks out in the Mon How store and is widely reported in numerous newspapers.

Through Chasing a Cat

Inverell, A fire occurred in F. Mon Hows’ store, Byron-street, at 9.30 last night, It appears that W. Long was in the store at the time writing a letter behind the crockery counter when a cat came into the store with a pigeon in its mouth. Long tried to rescue the pigeon, but the cat darted away, and in chasing it he upset a lamp, which thereupon exploded and set fire to a calico partition, also a lot of bills and receipts hanging above. Long did not stop at once, but followed the cat, only returning in time to find the whole place in a blaze. He then gave the alarm, and the neighbours in the vicinity and others rushed to the scene. They found the place in flames. There was not much water, but the fire-eaters worked heart and soul with the best results. A little girl, Mrs. How’s sister, who was asleep in one room, was brought out with difficulty. The fire was subdued after it had destroyed the furniture and effects in the bedroom and sitting-room and some grocery shelves. The loss was limited to £200. The place was insured for £1000.

APA citation
Through Chasing a Cat. (1901, May 3). The Braidwood and Araluen Express and People’s Advocate (NSW : 1899 – 1904), p. 4. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article270659714

Possibly as a result of the 1901 fire F. Mon How general store is faced with financial difficulties, by June Mon How posts a notice in the local paper calling for a meeting with his creditors⁴ and soon a Small Debts Court notice appears in the local paper, an application for inter pleader summons — F. Mon How v. Jas. Mayard.⁵

Along with the general stores, Mon How is also branching out into mining operations, and takes out a mineral lease for Tingha – September 1903.

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(1) APA citation Advertising (1899, July 29). The Inverell Times (NSW : 1899 – 1907, 1909 – 1954), p. 5. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186098372

(2) https://mhnsw.au/indexes/business-and-company-records/register-of-firms-index/?query=sam+daw&page=1

(3) Golden Threads, Janis Wilton, p18

(4) LOCAL AND GENERAL. (1901, June 12). The Inverell Times (NSW : 1899 – 1907, 1909 – 1954), p. 2. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article185163159

(5) Small Debts Court. (1902, January 11). The Inverell Times (NSW : 1899 – 1907, 1909 – 1954), p. 2. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article184464047