Khoo Chong Seng was born in Malacca around 1845. After marrying a daughter of Ong Ewe Hai, he went to help his father-in-law in Sarawak from 1878 to 1889, after which he was in charge of the Singapore office till he retired in 1900. He amassed a lot of properties and join the famous Ching Keng Lee & Co in 1913 as a partner. Khoo Chong Seng's daughter Khoo Kwak Neo was married to Yeo Hock Hoe, one of the two founders of Ching Keng Lee & Co.
Khoo Chong seng has two sons :
Khoo Sin Kee married to Ho Chye Neo
and
Khoo Sin Kiat, married to Yeo Geok Koon Neo
Khoo Sin Kiat has two sons : Khoo Hock Siew (who married Kho Bong Neo, the youngest daughter of Kho Keng Chuan) and Khoo Hock Giak
Yeo Hock Hoe's son Yeo Wee Seet also became a famous auctioneer.
Khoo Chong Seng died in 1925 at the age of 80 and was buried in the Khoo Chan Cemetery at Silat Road. There was an estate named after him in Bukit Timah in the past
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 12 February 1913, Page 2
SOCLAL AND PERSONAL.
The Straits Times, 2 July 1923, Page 8
Wee Keng Cheng , second son of Oei Kim Poey and grandson of Oei Leong Tan (Wee Leong Tan)
Khoo Young Neo (Khoo Yang Neo), granddaughter of Khoo Chong Seng
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2
The Straits Times, 8 January 1925, Page 7
In Jan 1925, Khoo Chong Seng was alleged to be unsound mind by the courts and some properties were sold
DEATHS
The Straits Times, 20 June 1925, Page 8
Khoo Chong Seng died on June 19, 1925 at 5, Mohamed Sultan Road, leaving one son Khoo Sin Kiat, one daughter Khoo Kwak Neo (Mrs Yeo Hock Hoe), two daughters in law, sixteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren. Funeral at Silat Road, off Kampong Bahru.
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.
The Straits Times, 24 June 1925, Page 8
Malayan Saturday Post, 15 August 1925, Page 24
Funeral of the late Khoo Chong Seng, a well known member of the Straits Chinese community
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly), 12 August 1925, Page 11
Manager of Messrs Ong Ewe HAI and Co from 1878 to 1889, after which he was in charge of the Singapore office retiring in 1900
From : One Hundred Years’ History Of the Chinese in Singapore
By Song Ong Siang
As a result of the visit with Lim Eng Moh to Sarawak, the firm of Ewe Hai, Moh & Co. was established in 1846, and from the start it prospered. Having at that time no firm or representative in Singapore to act as consignee, the young trader had to bring the Sarawak produce to Singapore himself. With all the proceeds of each sale Ewe Hai purchased a miscellaneous lot of suitable and attractive goods which he took with him back to Sarawak.
Becoming known to the merchants here as a man of straightforward dealing and good character, Mr. Ewe Hai easily got any amount of trade wares on credit, and he took full advantage of his opportunity. After some ten years' experience as a travelling merchant, the firm of Kay Cheang, Ewe Hai & Co. was founded in Singapore in 1856, and this firm in 1872 became Ong Ewe Hai & Co
In the early part of his stay in Sarawak, Ong Ewe Hai had to pass through much novel experience as regards means of subsistence and quarters. Luckily for him he happened to make the acquaintance of a petty Malay chief with whom he lived for some time, eating whatever food the chief had prepared for himself and his family. In his later years, when he had amassed a fortune and was able to rest on his oars, it gave him pleasure to relate his early adventures in Sarawak, how he had with his partner Lim Eng Moh every morning to go out paddling on the river in a small prahu to collect the produce gathered by the natives—and how, as there were numerous banana trees in the yard of his Malay host, a preparation from the ban
Mr. Ong Ewe Hai died in Singapore on the 9th June 1889 in his sixtieth year, and was buried in his estate off Bukit Timah Road, behind Holland Road railway station, where also was buried his wife, who died on the 11th June 1895 at the age of 64. After his death the firm was carried on by his sons Ong Tiang Soon and Ong Soon Tee and son-in-law Khoo Chong Seng, who left the firm in 1900.
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 25 August 1928, Page 3
Estate of Khoo Whatt Neo
Wee Peng Neo (Wee Char Bow), Wee Keng HOE, Tay Lian Neo
And
Ching Keng Lee, Ong Soon Tee, Hoh Chye Neo, Yeo Geok Koon Neo
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Straits Times, 12 March 1929, Page 7
The marriage ceremony of Mr Khoo Hock Siew, youngest son of Khoo Sin Kiat and grandson of the late Mr Khoo Chong Seng to Miss. Kho Bong Neo, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Kho Keng Chuan will take place on March 17, 1929
DOMESTIC OCCURRENCE. Births, Marriages And Deaths. DEATH.
Malaya Tribune, 23 December 1931, Page 8
At No 5, Mohamed Sultan Road at 11.30 am on Tuesday December 22, Mr Khoo Sin Keat (Khoo Sin Kiat) age 54, leaving behind 2 sons
Khoo Hock Giap (Khoo Hock Giak)
Khoo Hock Siew
CONSTRUCTION OF A WILL.
Malaya Tribune, 8 September 1933, Page 10
Page 21 Advertisements Column 3
Sunday Tribune (Singapore), 3 January 1937, Page 21
Mrs Khoo Sin Kee nee Ho Chye Neo passed away at 67 Bournemouth Road, Grove Estate
on 31st December 1936
son Khoo Soon Guan
Daughters
Mrs Ong Siew Jiang (Ong Siew Jiang was son of Ong Kee Soon)
Mrs Wee Keng Cheng (Wee Keng Cheng was son of Wee Kim Poey)
Mrs Song Choo Cheng
Page 18 Advertisements Column 1
Malaya Tribune, 31 March 1938, Page 18
Khoo Chong Seng owner 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Mohamed Sultan Road