Chinese Woman Born in Truckee in 1867
By Linda Bentz
Fourteen-year-old Ping Sui Cheong travelled to China on December 6, 1881. Leaving from Truckee, where she was born in 1867, her journey aboard the S.S. GAELIC would take three to four weeks. Ping Sui was accompanied by her parents who were most likely born in China; specifically, the Guangdong Province. One can only imagine the excitement of going to the homeland!
While in China, Ping Sui married a merchant whose surname was Chew. In 1885, upon the couple’s arrival back to the United States, an immigration official interviewed the bride. It was his responsibility to ascertain if she was allowed to return to the United States under to the terms of the Chinese exclusion act passed in 1882. An interpreter was hired, as Ping Sui did not speak a word of English. Details of her life were recorded and included in here immigration case file.
"I was born in Truckee and lived there until I was fourteen years-old. When I returned to China with my parents I was married to my husband Chew Chee Chin at Honolulu in KS 10, 10th month, 19th day [November 16, 1884 on Gregorian calendar]. I [my] father kept a grocery store in Truckee."
It is likely that Ping Sui and her husband Chee Chin were admitted to the United States when they arrived in San Francisco from Hong Kong. Chew was a merchant, so he and his wife were exempt from Chinese exclusion laws.
While intensive research has been conducted by members of the Truckee-Donner Historical Society to learn the fate of this couple, they appear to have fallen off the historical record.
Source: National Archives Records Administration. Chinese Exclusion Act Case files: Case number 200, Ship of arrival ARABIC, April 18, 1885. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28798824?objectPage=5
While in China, Ping Sui married a merchant whose surname was Chew. In 1885, upon the couple’s arrival back to the United States, an immigration official interviewed the bride. It was his responsibility to ascertain if she was allowed to return to the United States under to the terms of the Chinese exclusion act passed in 1882. An interpreter was hired, as Ping Sui did not speak a word of English. Details of her life were recorded and included in here immigration case file.
"I was born in Truckee and lived there until I was fourteen years-old. When I returned to China with my parents I was married to my husband Chew Chee Chin at Honolulu in KS 10, 10th month, 19th day [November 16, 1884 on Gregorian calendar]. I [my] father kept a grocery store in Truckee."
It is likely that Ping Sui and her husband Chee Chin were admitted to the United States when they arrived in San Francisco from Hong Kong. Chew was a merchant, so he and his wife were exempt from Chinese exclusion laws.
While intensive research has been conducted by members of the Truckee-Donner Historical Society to learn the fate of this couple, they appear to have fallen off the historical record.
Source: National Archives Records Administration. Chinese Exclusion Act Case files: Case number 200, Ship of arrival ARABIC, April 18, 1885. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28798824?objectPage=5
NARA, first woman of Chinese descent TDHS has located - born in Truckee in 1867.
HCS 12/12/2025
