Deat at Magenta Cottage, Singapore, on May 18th, Lee Cheng Yean, J.P., aged 71. [The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 19 May 1911, Page 6]
We greatly regret to annunce the death of Mr Lee Cheng Yean, J.P., one of the leading Chinese gentlemen of Singapore. Mr Cheng Yean a few days ago celebrated his 70th birthday. Yesterday afternoon he was at Magenta Cottage when he was seized with sudden illness and died from failure of the heart about half past seven. The body was brought down to the town house of the deceased, 55 Stanley-st., and the preliminary arrangements made for the funeral, of which notice will be given later. The late Mr Lee Cheng Yean was born in Malacca in 1841. He established himself in business in 1859 as Chop Chin Joo, and Lee Cheng Yean & Co. By hard work and integrity he prospered and retired from the business about twenty years ago, leavint its management to his only son Mr Lee Choon Guan. A man of considerable wealth, Mr Lee Cheng Yean took a leading part in the community of which he was a distinguished member. He was a Justice of the Peace for Singapore, a member of the Chinese Advisory Board, a trustee of the Chinese Temple, a member of the committee of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and served on many public committees. He is also the founder of the Free School in Serangoon-rd, and was unostentatiously charitable in many directions. A visit to Europe in 1883 gave him a wider view of the possibilities of Straits Chinese, and he was always in the forefront of any good movement. He will be greatly missed, and great sympathy will be felt for his son and relatives. [The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 19 May 1911, Page 6]
It is with deep regret that we have to record the death of one of the most respected of our Chinese citizens, Mr Lee Cheng Yan, which occurred at his town residence, Magenta Cottagem Killiney Road, yesterday evening. It was only on the 9th inst. that the deceased gentleman celebrated his seventy-first birthday at Mandalay Villa, Tanjong Katong, and it was then apparent to his nearer acquaintances, who went out to congratulate the old gentleman, that he was far from well. For about a fortnight before his death he had been under medical treatment, and yesterday afternoon his condition took a turn for the worst, the end coming during the evening from failure of the heart. The late Mr Lee Cheng Yan, who was born at Malacca in 1841, at the age of nineteen founded the firrm of Lee Cheng Yan and Company, Chop Chin Joo, in Malacca Street. He retired from active business some twenty years ago, and died a wealthy man. While being a shrewd man of business he found pleasure in associating himself with movements of a philanthropic character and contributed largely to funds for worthy objects, such, for instand, as thee Hong Joo Chinese Free School, in Serangoon Eoad, of which he was the founder. He was a Justice of the Peace for the Settlement of Singapore, besides being connected officially with the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the Anglo-Chinese Free School, the Chinese Advisory Board, he Po Leung Kuk, the Lam Hak Tang School, at North Bridge Road, the Ee Lam Teng Club and a number of other institutions. Since he retired from business, the management of the firm of Lee Cheng Yan and Company has been in the hands of his only son, Mr Lee Choon Guan, who, it may be recalled, for five years represented the Central Ward, No. 2, on the Municipal Council. Among the grandchildren who survive him are Messrs Lee Pang Seng and Lee Pang Chuan who left Singapore a few months ago to study in London, where the deceased gentleman himself spent part of a holiday some twenty-eight years ago. The funeral will take place at the family burial ground at Serangoon Road at a date to be announced later. The body now lies at 5 Stanley Street where arrangements are being completed for the obsequies. Flags are half-masted at the Ee Lam Teng Club and the Weekly Entertainment Club. [The Straits Times, 19 May 1911, Page 7]
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