Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Arthur Hop Lee ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Arthur Hop Lee
LAST NAME: Hop Lee FIRST NAME: Arthur MIDDLE NAME:  NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1: Hop Lee Baby AKA 2: Lee AKA 3: Loo
TITLE:  GENDER: M MILITARY: 
BORN: 02 Apr 1911 DIED: 28 Apr 1915 BURIED: 29 Apr 1915
ETHNICITY:  Chinese OCCUPATION:  
BIRTH PLACE:  Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co. Oregon
NOTES: 

J. Plant Register: Hop Lee Baby, April 1915
Birth Certificate: Arthur Hop Lee, male, Chinese, was born April 2, 1911 to father Hop Lee (other name scribbled out) Hop Lee was born in China, aged 53 and was a merchant; and mother Hong Hop Lee, born in San Francisco, Cal., aged 21.

 

DISCREPANCY - Note that the date of death is mentioned in the newspapers as Apr 27th; Death Certificate states date of death as Apr 28th.

DISCREPANCY - Name shown as both Hop Lee and Loo, the family name has evolved to Low in current times.

PHOTOGRAPH Note: The photograph of Arthur Lee is courtesy of Russell Low.

OBITUARY: 

Young Son of Hop Lee, Missing From Home; Parents have no Trace
Oscar [sic] Hop Lee, the 4-year-old son of Hop Lee, well known Chinese merchant and hop man, disappeared from his house 296 South Church street yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock and at a late hour last night had not been seen.
The little boy was not missed until after 8 o'clock as his father thought he was home while his mother thought he was with his father.  A search was begun and the police notified at once but without results so far.  The child was wearing a blue waist, blue trousers and a black hat.  Any information concerning him should be telephoned to his father 1806M.
The family has been here for many years and is well known and friends are considerable worried over the continued absence of the lad.
Oregon Statesman 28 Apr 1915 1:5


BODY OF BOY FOUND IN MILL RACE TODAY
Son of Hop Lee, Aged 4 Years, Drowns Late Last Evening
This morning at 9:30 o'clock the body of little four-year old Oscar [sic] Hop Lee, son of Hop Lee, wealthy Chinese resident of this city, was found in the mill race.  The boy left his home late yesterday afternoon and search was made practically all last night by the police officers but no trace of him was found.  This morning the water was turned out of the race and the body was discovered a short distance below the bridge on High street by Officer Nicholson and a party of searchers.
It is believed the boy wandered to the bridge and while playing fell in late in the evening, the passersby are few and no one witnessed the accident.  As this is the fourth tragedy resulting from the open watercourse through the city, it is believed by a large number of people that the corporations using the water should cover the ditch.
Capital Journal 28 Apr 1915 3:5

 

TOT IS DROWNED
Arthur Hop Lee Meets Death in Mill Race
Disappeared Tuesday, Found Yesterday Morning 
Was Son of Well Known Chinese
The body of Arthur Hop Lee, the 4-year-old son of Hop Lee, well known Chinese merchant and hop rancher, was found yesterday about 9:30 a.m. in the mill race near the Gile Mercantile company on High street.  The little boy disappeared Tuesday afternoon about 4 o'clock from his home at 296 South Church street and is thought to have wandered to the mill race near his home where he fell into the water.  He was not missed until after 8 o'clock p.m. as his mother thought the child was with his father and his father thought he was home.
Police Find Body
The police were notified at once and a search was also made throughout the Chinese quarter but without avail.  Yesterday morning police officers began searching the mill race and found the body lodged against the screen across the stream near the Gile company's establishment.  The was had been let out of the canal to assist in the recovery of the body.
Funeral is Today
The little boy was the youngest child of his parents who have two other sons and two daughters.  The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Harry E. Marshall of the First Baptist church and interment will be in the Odd Fellows' cemetery.  The services will be today at the family residence, 295 South Church street at 2 p.m.
The mill race where the child is believed to have fallen in is unprotected and is quite deep with a strong current.  In the past few years a number of children have been drowned at various points along the stream.
Oregon Statesman 29 Apr 1915

 

Great Sympathy Shown For Chinese Family by Large Number at Funeral

The Chinese quarter was deserted yesterday afternoon during the hour of the funeral of little Arthur Hop Lee, 4-year-old son of Hop Lee, a well-known Chinese merchant, which was held at 2 p.m. from the residence, 296 South Church street. Not only the Chinese people, but a large gathering of Anglo-Saxons, and a small sprinkling of members of the negro race, united in expressing their sympathy over the passing of the cheery tot who was downed in the millrace.

The little boy was a member of the primary department of the Baptist Sunday school, and Rev. H. E. Marshall spoke touchingly of his death. A song which is often sung in Chinese missions and familiar to many, “When He Cometh,” and “Asleep in Jesus,” were sung by Mrs. Theodore Roth and Miss Mina Gile. An old fashioned spindle-legged melodeon was the quaint instrument used for accompaniment.

Massed around the casket upon which the little one was laid were many beautiful flowers and artistic wreath pieces. They offered a marked contrast with many Chinese funeral, where other methods and decorations are used in the rites. With one accord the celestials united in expressing their appreciation of the Christian service at the burial. However, one of the representatives clutched sacredly a paper sack, which bulged with Chinese presents of the edible kind.

The pallbearers were primary teachers of the Sunday school: Mrs. E.R. Shank, Mrs. E. Bullock, Mrs. C. E. Siegmund and Mrs. L. H. Barnett. With a white hearse and many flower laden carriages and automobiles, the funeral procession moved to the Odd Fellow’s cemetery, where the body was buried.

Daily Oregon Statesman 30 Apr 1915, pg 8

 

Shaft of Light Shines Through Thick Darkness of China Family: Child Born

A beam of light shone through the overshadowing gloom in the household of Hop Lee, whose little son was drowned in the mill race last week, when a baby daughter was born to them yesterday morning. She is a pretty, plump little girl and will take the name of Ada Hop Lee.

“Yesterday, he my baby,” said the well-known Chinaman as he stroked the head of his two-year-old son, caressingly, “but today, she my baby,” he added as with the pretty young mother, the family gazed upon the dainty little mite who was sleeping quietly on a pink satin comforter. Both mother and baby are doing will.

Last Thursday a four-year-old son, Oscar [sic] Hop Lee, wandered to the mill race near the Hop Lee home on South Church street and was drowned. The family was bowed in grief over the death. However, the burden is somewhat lifted. The fond parents till have five children, three girls and two boys.

Daily Oregon Statesman 4 May 1915, pg 1

 

INSCRIPTION: 

No marker

SOURCES: 

Plant Register
Birth Certificate, Marion County
OSBH DC (Marion 1915) #1423
OS 28 Apr 1915 1:5
OS 29 Apr 1915
CJ 28 Apr 1915 3:5

CONTACTS: 
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