John / William Hang

 

Hang was known as John Ah Heng, John Ah Hang, John A. Hang, John A. Hong, William Ah Hang and William A. Hang.

He was born in China and died December 3, 1923 in Staten Island, New York. He served in the Union Navy. Ruthanne Lum McCunn has additional information about Hang at the Association to commemorate the Chinese serving in the American Civil War; she profiled Hang in “Chinese in the Civil War: Ten Who Served.”

U.S. Navy Pensions Index, 1861-1910
Name: John Hang
Publication: M1469
Pension Approval: Approved
File Number: 76462
Certification Number: 38665
Fiche Number: 37855
Archive: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Collection: U.S. Navy Pensions Index


New York, Grand Army of the Republic Records, 1866-1931

1910 New York City Directory
Hang Wm A cigars 500 Pearl

U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
Name: John Hang
Birth Year: abt 1839
Keyed Birth Location: Canton China
Birth Country: China
Birth City: Canton
Admitted Year: 1919
Age at Admission: 80
State: New York
County: Steuben
City: Bath
Branch: Bath Branch
Enlistment: July 24, 1863, New York, NY
Rank: L’man [Landsman]
Company and Regiment: US Navy
Discharge: September 30, 1864, Boston, Mass
Date of Admission: August 14, 1919
Date of Death: December 3, 1923, New York

Hang was recorded in the 1920 U.S. Federal Census.

The New York Times
March 13, 1890
The heart of the Mott-street Chinaman apparently is becoming “allee samee muchee like” the hearts of white men. Charity is the latest virtue that the Celestials have shown symptoms of. Yesterday there was filed a certificate of incorporation for the Chinese charitable and Benevolent Association of the City of New-York. Its offices are to be at 16 Mott-street. Its trustees are Leung Jum, Mon Lee, Wong He Chong, Tom L. Lee, and William A Hang.

The Syracuse Journal
(New York)
March 20, 1890
The first Chinese corporation of New York State is the Chinese Charitable and Benevolent association of the city of New York, whose certificate has been filed and recorded by the Secretary of State at Albany. The objects set forth are to ameliorate the condition of the Chinese poor in New York city. The trustees for the first year are Lung Jum, No. 8 Mott-st.; Mon Lee, No. 5 Mott-st.; Wong He Chong, No. 19 Bowery; Tom L. Lee, No. 4 Mott st. and William A. Hang. No. 18 Pell-st. The signatures of these men are written in English, and are well executed.

The Missionary Review of the World
December 1890
The first Chinese corporation of New York State is the Chinese Charitable and Benevolent Association of the City of New York, whose certificate has been filed and recorded by the Secretary of State at Albany. The objects set forth are to ameliorate the condition of the Chinese poor in New York city. The trustees for the first year are Lung Jum, No. 8 Mott Street; Mon Lee, No. 5 1/2 Mott Street; Wong He Chong, No. 19 Bowery; Tom L. Lee, No. 4 Mott Street, and William A. Hang. No. 18 Pell Street. The signatures of these men are written in English, and are well executed.

The New York Times
August 17, 1904
Prosperous Chinese Arrested for Voting
Federal Authorities Say They Were Illegally Naturalized.
Others May Face Charges
“Mayor of Chinatown,” Tom Lee, One Prisoner—Other Two in Business In This City.

Three prosperous Chinamen, who have lived in this city for many years, were arrested yesterday and arraigned before United States Commissioner Shields in the Federal Building, charged with having voted at elections here although they were not legally entitled to vote, according to the naturalization laws which bar Chinese from citizenship privileges.

The three prisoners were Tom Lee of 18 Mott Street, who is better known as the “Mayor of Chinatown”; William A. Hang, a cigar manufacturer, of 500 Pearl Street, and Charles Foon Foos, a merchant, of 34 Mott Street. They waived examination, and were held in $500 bail each for the next term of the United States Circuit Court. In each case ball was furnished and the men were released.

Assistant United States District Attorneys Marx and Houghton, who have charge of the prosecution of naturalization frauds, declared that they knew of a number of other Chinamen who possessed alleged citizenship papers, and that these would be arrested as soon as the Federal authorities could gather them in.

In addition to laws passed in 1870 forbidding the further naturalization of Chinamen, more explicit statutes were passed in 1882. Messrs. Marx and Houghton proceeded against the three accused Chinamen on the authority of these stringent laws. Lee obtained his citizenship papers, it is alleged, in the Criminal Courts of St. Louis in 1876. Since his residence in New York the “Mayor of Chinatown” has taken quite an interest in politics, and has voted at every election, usually supporting the Democrats. In 1894 he was appointed a Deputy Sheriff, his commission bearing the signature of Under Sheriff John B. Sexton. The specific charge against Lee is that he registered to vote for an Assemblyman on Oct. 10, 1903.

William A. Hang also is in possession of a full certificate of naturalization, granted him by the County Court of Richmond, Ind., on Oct. 6, 1892. He is sixty-five years old, and came to this country forty-eight years ago. He greatly resembles Li Hung Chang. Charles Foon Foss got his citizenship papers from the Court of Common Pleas of Passaic County, N. J., on March 24, 1890.

Each of the Chinamen asserted that he had received assurances that he had a right to naturalization papers. They all assert that at the time no objection was made to their Chinese birth, and that they had never been barred from any voting place at any time. The men did not seem at all perturbed over their arrest, and expressed the opinion that they would not be punished very severely.

New-York Tribune
August 17, 1904
Chinamen Were Voters.
Three Arrested Show Regular Naturalization Papers.
That, notwithstanding the scrutiny of the election inspectors at the polls, Chinamen have been permitted to vote at elections in this city was the discovery made yesterday by Joel M. Marx, Assistant United States District Attorney. As a result, three sons of the Yellow Kingdom, one of them the “Mayor of Chinatown,” were arraigned before Commissioner Shields. They waived examination and furnished $500 bail.

Laws were first passed in 1870 to prevent the further naturalizing of Chinamen. These were supplemented and made more explicit by Chapter 126 of the Laws of 1882, of the United States Revised Statutes. Yesterday, Dempsey P. Meetze, special employee of the Department of Justice, arrested “Tom Lee,” the so called “Mayor of Chinatown,” at the latter’s restaurant, No. 18 Mott-st. The “Mayor’s” original Celestial name was Wung A. Lung, but this he had changed in 1890. Four years before that, in the criminal courts of St. Louis, Wung A. Lung secured his full papers, which entitled him to all citizenship rights. Since his residence in New-York Lee has taken an interest in politics, voting at every election, and is regarded as a political leader.

In 1894 he held a deputy sheriff’s commission, bearing the signature of Under Sheriff John B. Sexton. He obtained a passport in 1879, on which he made a protracted visit to China, where he enjoyed all the rights of an American citizen.

William A. Hang, a cigar manufacturer, of No. 500 Pearl-st., was also arrested. Hang produced a certificate of naturalization, granted by the County Court of Richmond County, October 6, 1892. On October 10 following Hang registered, stating at the time, as the records show, that he was born in China. To the officials of Richmond County Hang made the admission. Hang is sixty-five years old, and came to the United States forty-eight years ago. He has always voted, he says, in the VIIth Assembly District.

Eng Ten Lung, a Chinese merchant of No. 34 Mott-st., was the third arrested. His certificate of citizenship was granted by the Court of Common Pleas of Passaic County, N.J., March 24, 1890. Lung says that he, like Tom Lee and Tong Kee Hang, told the officials at the time he secured his papers of citizenship, that he had been born in China. Each insists that he was told he had a right to naturalization, and secured his papers accordingly . All three insist no objection was made by any one at the time because of his Chinese birth. Neither were they challenged at any voting place at any time.

The Sun
(New York, New York)
August 17, 1904
Raid on Chinese “Citizens”
Merchants Arrested for Courts’ Blunder—Tom Lee Dazed by Charge.

Three Chinese business men were arraigned before United States Commissioner Shields yesterday on the ground that they held citizens papers to which they are not entitled. They were held in $500 bail each for the United States Grand Jury.

Wang A. Lung of 18 Mott street, who had his name changed by the New York Court of Common Pleas in 1880 toTom Lee, and who is known as the Mayor of Chinatown, claims that he was naturalized in 1870 in the Criminal Court of St. Louis. William A. Hang, a grocer of New Brighton, Staten Island, says he was naturalized in Richmond county on Oct. 8, 1892. E. Teng Lung, a tea merchant of 34 Mott street, claims to have been naturalized in the court of Common Pleas at Passaic on March 24, 1890.

According to chapter 128 of the Revised Statutes, passed in 1870, and amended in 1883, Chinese aliens are denied the right of naturalization. How the various, courts came to grant certificates to these Chinamen Assistant United States District Attorneys Joel M. Marx and Clarence S. Houghton don’t pretend to say. They have instructed Dempsey Meetze and C.V.C. Van Dusen, special employees of the Department of .Justice, to arrest, all Chinamen holding naturalization papers. It is said that no Chinaman has ever before been arrested on this charge in New York.

The Mayor of Chinatown did not know what to make of his arrest yesterday. He has been in-this country for forty-eight years. In 1879 he went to China with all the glory that a United States passport can confer. For years he has been the “Tammany boss of Chinatown,” according to Mr. Marx. In 1884 he was appointed a deputy sheriff under Sheriff Clancy. He owns several stores and restaurants. For twenty-eight years he has been voting.

William A. Hang, whose name used to be Tong Kee Hang, and on whom Judge Stephen D. Stephens and Clerk C.A. Hort conferred citizenship on Oct. 8, 1892, has been voting ever since in the Seventh Assembly district at 15 Mulberry street in the presence of four election inspectors.

E. Teng Lung, when he first declared his intention of becoming a citizen, in Passaic, had his name changed to Eng Foong Poos, in which name he now rejoices.

The Evening Chronicle
(Spokane, Washington)
October 23, 1908
Chink Has Pension But Loses His Vote
New York, Oct. 23.—After having voted in New York city for 30 years, and while drawing a pension granted him on account of his services with Farragut during the civil war, William A. Hang will not be able to vote at the coming election.

His citizenship papers have been canceled by a decision of the courts, and unless the decision is reversed Hang will no longer be a citizen of the country in which he has lived for 50 years.

Hang is a Chinaman, and under the recent acts of congress he can not be a citizen of the United States.

The Evening Standard
(Ogden, Utah)
February 10, 1911
Chinaman Was in Civil War
New York, Feb 10.—The only Chinaman who is a veteran of the Civil war has written to President Taft for assistance in efforts to regain his citizenship. He is John Ah Hang, proprietor of a little cigar store in the New York Chinatown. His citizenship papers were cancelled in 1908.

Hang enlisted in the navy at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1862 and served also on the Albatross, Penguin and North Carolina. He voted in New York until his papers were cancelled. Hang says that he is an old man now and that he wants to vote for one more president before he dies. In his letter, asking President Taft’s aid the veteran says that the record will show that he served with distinction and was honorably discharged.

The Logan Republican
(Utah)
February 10, 1911
Chinaman Appeals to Taft
Civil War Veteran Wants His Assistance to Regain Citizenship
New York, Feb 10.—The only Chinaman who is a veteran of the Civil war has written to President Taft for assistance in efforts to regain his citizenship. He is John Ah Hang, proprietor of a little cigar store in the New York Chinatown. His citizenship papers were cancelled in 1908.

Han [sic] enlisted in the navy at the Brooklyn navy yard in 1862 and served under Farragut at Mobile Bay and also on the Albatross, Penguin and North Carolina. He voted in New York until his papers were cancelled. Hang says that he is an old man now and that he wants to vote for one more president before he died [sic]. In his letter, asking President Taft’s aid, the veteran says that the record will show that he served with distinction and was honorably discharged.

New York Herald
February 10, 1911
Seeks His Citizenship.
Chinese Veteran of Civil War Lost Papers of Naturalization, Duplicates Being Taken Away.
William Ah Hang, a Chinese, who obtained United States citizenship papers in 1866 and who is in the tobacco business at No. 500 Pearl street, wrote to the Secretary of the Navy yesterday in an attempt to regain his citizen’s papers, which he says were illegally taken from him.

Hang served In the United States Navy in 1863 and 1864 as a landsman on board the Albatross and the Penguin. He holds an honorable discharge from the navy and took out citizenship papers in 1866. He lost them, and while living in Stapleton, S.I., in 1882 applied for duplicates. The papers were then dated 1882. In 1872 a law was passed prohibiting Chinese from becoming citizens.

Hang says that at the time Theodore Roosevelt was candidate for President an election inspector asked to see his papers. He told the Chinese that they were no good and took them away. Hang was ignorant of the law until recently, when friends took up the matter.

The Repository
(Canton, Ohio)
February 10, 1911
Chinese War Vet Wants Citizenship
New York, Feb 10.—(A.P.)—The only Chinaman who is a veteran of the Civil war has written to President Taft for assistance in efforts to regain his citizenship. He is John Ah Hang, proprietor of a little cigar store in the New York Chinatown. His citizenship papers were cancelled on a legal technicality in 1908.

Hang enlisted in the navy at the Brooklyn navy yard in 1862 and served under Farragut at Mobile Bay, and also on the Albatross, Penguin and North Carolina. He voted from New York until his papers were cancelled. Hang says that he is an old man now and that he wants to vote for one more president before he dies. In his letter, asking Mr. Taft’s aid the veteran says that the record will show that he served with distinction and was honorably discharged.

Salt Lake Telegram
(Utah)
February 10, 1911
Chinese Veteran of Civil War
New York, Feb 10.—The only Chinaman who is a veteran of the Civil war has written to President Taft for assistance in efforts to regain his citizenship. He is John Ah Hang, proprietor of a little cigar store in the New York Chinatown. His citizenship papers were cancelled in 1908.

Hang enlisted in the navy at the Brooklyn navy yard in 1862 and served under Farragut at Mobile Bay and also on the Albatross, Penguin and North Carolina. He voted in New York until his papers were cancelled. Hang says that he is an old man now and that he wants to vote for one more president before he dies. In his letter, asking President Taft’s aid the veteran says that the record will show that he served with distinction and was honorably discharged.

Seattle Daily Times
(Washington)
February 10, 1911
Chinese Veteran of Civil War Asks Aid
New York, Friday, Feb 10.—The only Chinaman who is a veteran of the Civil war has written to President Taft for assistance in efforts to regain his citizenship. He is John Ah Hang, proprietor of a little cigar store in the New York Chinatown. His citizenship papers were cancelled in 1908.

Hang enlisted in the navy at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1862 and served under Farragut at Mobile Bay and also on the Albatross, Penguin and North Carolina. He voted in New York until his papers were cancelled. Hang says that he is an old man now and that he wants to vote for one more President before he dies. In his letter, asking President Taft’s aid the veteran says that the record will show that he served with distinction and was honorably discharged.

New York Herald
February 12, 1911
Chinese Veteran Wants to Vote
William Ah Hang After Service in Civil War Asks That Citizenship Papers Be Restored.
In a letter to Secretary of State Knox William Ah Hang, who has a tobacco shop at No.500 Pearl street and is the only living veteran of the civil war ,asks that citizenship papers obtained in 1867 after being honorably discharged from the navy be restored to him. They were cancelled by the United States District Attorney’s office in 1908. Up to that time he voted from New York. In his letter to the Secretary of State he says he wants to vote for one more President before he dies.

“I was in the navy four years,” he told a reporter for the Herald, “and was on the Albatross, Penguin and North Carolina. I was in the fight at New Orleans when Farragut went into the harbor and was at Mobile Bay. I enlisted in the navy at the Brooklyn Navy Yard when I had been in this country only two years. Here is my discharge.”

Mr. Hang exhibited a well worn document showing that he had been honorably discharged from the United States Navy July 24, 1866.

“I don’t like to fight very much,” he said. “No Chinese do until they are forced to it, I was not obliged to fight, but I wanted to become a citizen of this land, and its battles were my battles just as much as though I was born here instead of in China. I liked it in the navy, the ships were so clean and there was so much to do. When I came to New York to live it was not so nice. People were so crowded together.

“In the navy I learned much of American ways, more quickly than I could have in any other manner. I was with American men, working with them, and had to speak to them in English. I cut my queue off before I enlisted; in fact I did that as soon as I came to America, because I wanted to become a part of this country just as soon as I could.”

Salt Lake Evening Telegram
(Utah)
February 17, 1911
Chinese Who Is Civil War Veteran
New York.—In a letter to Secretary of State Knox John Ah Hang, who has a tobacco shop at No. 500 Pearl street, is the only living Chinaman veteran of the civil war, asks that citizenship papers, obtained in 1867, after being honorably discharged from the navy, be restored to him. They were canceled by the United States district attorney’s office in 1908. Up to that time he voted from New York. In his letter to the secretary of state he says he wants to vote for one more president before he dies.

“I was in the navy four years,” he said, “and on the Albatross, Penguin and North Carolina. I was in the fight at New Orleans when Farragut went into the harbor and was at Mobile Bay. I enlisted in the navy at the Brooklyn navy yard when I had been in this country only two years. Here is my discharge.”

Mr. Hang exhibited a well worn document showing that he had been honorably discharged from the United States navy July 5, 1865.

The Oregonian
(Portland, Oregon)
February 19, 1911
Chinese Seeks to Vote
Only Veteran of Civil War Petitions Taft for Citizenship
New York, Feb 18.—The only Chinaman who is a veteran of the Civil War has written to President Taft for assistance in efforts to regain his citizenship.

He is John Ah Hang, proprietor of a little cigar store in the New York Chinatown. His citizenship papers were cancelled on a legal technicality in 1908.

Hang enlisted in the navy at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1862 and served under Farragut at Mobile Bay and also on the Albatross, Penguin and North Carolina. He voted from New York until his papers were cancelled.

Hang says that he is an old man now and that he wants to vote for one more president before he dies.

The Saginaw Daily News
(Michigan)
February 22, 1911
In the Public Eye
New York, March 1.—John A. Hong of New York has asked President Taft to make some arrangement whereby he can vote. For many years, until the last election, Hong voted the Republican ticket.

In 1856 when he was fifteen years of age, a friend of Hong’s father brought the boy from China to put him in school in Brooklyn. Hong never saw home again. During the civil war he got a job on one of the Mississippi river fighting boats.

“I used to have to pass up the shells,” said Hong. “I never shot a cannon at the Johnny reds [sic], but I helped to load the guns. After the war I started a cigar store in New York and I’ve been running it ever since. When I went to vote at the recent election they told me I couldn’t vote, because a Chinaman couldn’t be naturalized.

“It seems to me a man ought to have something to say about running the government for which he offered his life. I’m as much an American as anybody else. In fact, I’ve entirely forgotten how to talk Chinese.”

The Muskegon News Chronicle
(Michigan)
February 24, 1911
This Chinaman a G.A.R. Veteran
John A. Hong of New York has asked President Taft to make some arrangement whereby he can vote. For many years, until the last election, Hong voted the Republican ticket.

In 1856 when he was fifteen years of age, a friend of Hong’s father brought the boy from China to put him in school in Brooklyn. Hong never saw home again. During the civil war he got a job on one of the Mississippi river fighting boats.

“I used to have to pass up the shells,” said Hong. “I never shot a cannon at the Johnny rebs, but I helped to load the guns. After the war I started a cigar store in New York and I’ve been running it ever since. When I went to vote at the recent election they told me I couldn’t vote, because a Chinaman couldn’t be naturalized.

“It seems to me a man ought to have something to say about running the government for which he offered his life. I’m as much an American as anybody else. In fact, I’ve entirely forgotten how to talk Chinese.”

The Tacoma Times
(Washington)
February 25, 1911
This Chinaman a G.A.R. Veteran
John A. Hong of New York has asked President Taft to make some arrangement whereby he can vote. For many years, until the last election, Hong voted the republican ticket.

In 1856, when he was fifteen years of age, a friend of Hong’s father brought the boy from China to put him in school in Brooklyn. Hong never saw home again. During the Civil war he got a job on one of the Mississippi river fighting boats.

“I used to have to pass up the shells,” said Hong. “I never shot a cannon at the Johnny rems but I helped to load the guns. After the war I started a cigar store in New York, and I’ve been running it ever since. When I went to vote at the recent election they told me a I couldn’t vote, because a Chinaman couldn’t be naturalized.”

“It seems to me a man ought to have something to say, about running the government for which he offered his life. I’m as much an American as anybody here. In fact, I've entirely forgotten how to talk Chinese.”

Evening Press
(Grand Rapids, Michigan)
March 1, 1911
The Barred Veteran
New York, March 1.—John A. Hong of New York is the veteran who has asked President Taft to make some arrangement whereby he can vote again. For many years, until the last election, Hong voted the Republican ticket.

In 1856 when he was fifteen years of age a friend of Hong’s father brought the boy from China to put him in school in Brooklyn. Hong never saw home again. During the Civil war he served on one of the Mississippi river fighting boats.

“I used to have to pass up the shells,” said Hong. “After the war I started a cigar store in New York and I’ve been running it ever since. When I went to vote at the recent election they told me I couldn’t vote, because a Chinaman couldn’t be naturalized.

“It seems to me a man ought to have something to say about running the government for which he offered his life.”

The Evening Leader
(Corning, New York)
December 4, 1923
Chinese Veteran, Former Bath Home Inmate, Dies
Bath, Dec. 4.—John Hang, said to be one of the few Chinese veterans of the Civil war, died yesterday in the Staten Island Hospital, New York. He was 86 years old and for several years an inmate of the Soldiers’ Home here.

He was taken with a heart attack two weeks ago when he went to Staten Island to visit his wife’s grave and was removed to the hospital.

Schenectady Gazette
(New York)
December 4, 1923
Chinese Veteran Dies.
New York. Dec. 3.—John Hang, said to be one of the few Chinese veterans of the Civil War, died today in the Staten Island hospital. He was 86 years old and for several years an inmate of the Soldiers’ Home at Bath. He was taken with a heart attack two weeks ago when he went to Staten Island to visit his wife's grave and was removed to the hospital.

The Troy Times
(New York)
December 31, 1923
Necrology
December
4 [sic]. John Hang, Chinese veteran of American Civil War, eighty-six.

Congressional Record

Senate
May 23, 2003
First and foremost, I would like to recognize the service of Asian Pacific Americans in our Armed Forces, especially as we celebrate Memorial Day. The history of Asian Pacific Americans in military service stretches from William Ah Hang, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War...

Hang is profiled in the National Park Service book, Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War.

(Next post: C.K. Marshall)

Kwong Lee / Kwang Lee

Born: circa 1839, China

Union Navy, 1862

The San Francisco Call
(California)
July 23, 1909
Chinese Civil War Veteran to Vote
Will Cast Ballot Despite Federal Statute and Constitution of California
Despite the federal statute and the constitution of California, Kwong Lee, a native of China, registered as a voter yesterday and will be allowed to participate in the November election.

A federal statute enacted in 1882 debars all Chinese, unless born in this country, from exercising the franchise. The state constitution says no native of China shall ever exercise the privilege of voting. But Kwong Lee, native of China, is going to vote just the same.

For Kwong Lee was naturalized in 1874, before the federal statute was enacted. More than that, Kwong Lee is a veteran of the Civil war, having first seen service in 1862 aboard a gunboat which carried the mails for the army up and down the Mississippi.

That this Chinese-American was no noncombatant was proved yesterday when he bared his queueless head to Registrar Zemansky to show where a confederate bullet had plowed its way. Kwong Lee was shot five times in the defense of the country of which he was not yet a citizen. Besides the bullet hole in the head, he has another in the breast, one in the left leg, one in the right foot and a shell wound in the hip.

The Chinese appeared at the registrar’s office yesterday with Cameron King Jr., who asked Zemansky whether he was entitled to register. After hearing the facts and examining Kwong’s naturalization appears, Zemansky said that he was qualified. The Chinese accordingly registered, refusing to state his politics.

Kwong Lee is 70 years old and belongs to the Chinese reform society.

The Denver Post
(Colorado)
July 23, 1909
But One ‘Frisco Chink’ Can Vote
Was Naturalized Before Federal Statute Withholding Suffrage Was Enacted
San Francisco, July 23.—Despite the fact that the federal statute and the constitution of California forbid the natives of China the privilege of voting, Kwong Lee, a native of that country, will be permitted to vote at the November election here.

But Kwong Lee was naturalized in 1874, before the federal statute was enacted. Yesterday he appeared with a member of the election commission and after producing his naturalization papers was permitted to register.

Riverside Daily Press
(California)
July 23, 1909
Old Chinaman Union Soldier
Seventy-Year-Old Chinaman Registered in San Francisco—Fought on Mississippi River Mail Boat in the Rebellion
San Francisco, July 23.—Despite the provisions of the federal statute that deny him a vote, Kwong Lee, born in China, was duly registered yesterday and will cast his ballot at the coming municipal election.

Kwong is 70 years old. He saw service during the civil war on a Union Mississippi river mail boat and his withered body is scarred by half a dozen wounds received in the service of this country.

The Chinese bases his right to vote on the fact that he became a naturalized citizen in 1876, eight years before the prohibitory statute was effective.

Salt Lake Telegram
(Salt Lake City, Utah)
July 23, 1909
(see Denver Post)

The Tacoma Times
(Washington)
July 23, 1909
Chinaman Will Cast Vote
(By United Press Leased Wire)
San Francisco, July 23.—Despite the provisions of the federal statute that deny a vote, Kwong Lee, born in China, was duly registered today and will cast a ballot at the coming municipal elections.

Kwong is 70 year of age. He saw service during the Civil War, serving on a Mississippi river mail boat.

San Diego Union
(California)
July 24, 1909
Chinaman to Vote in Next Election in S.F.
Kwong Lee, Naturalized in 1874, Proves his Right to Register.
By the Associated Press
San Francisco, July 23.—Despite the fact that a federal statute and the constitution forbid the natives of China the privilege of voting, Kwong Lee, a native of that country, will be permitted to vote at the November election here.

A federal statute enacted in 1882 debars all Chinese, unless born in this country, from exercising the franchise, and the state constitution says no native of China shall ever exercise that privilege. But Kwong Lee was naturalized in 1874, before the federal statute was enacted.

Yesterday he appeared with a member of the election commission and after producing his naturalization papers was permitted to register. He is a veteran of the civil war, having been wounded five times while servicing on a federal gunboat on the Mississippi river.

Riverside Daily Press
(California)
August 18, 1909
Naturalized Chinaman Surrenders His Papers
San Francisco, Aug. 18—Admitting that he secured naturalization papers fraudulently in St. Louis, in 1874, Kwang Lee today appeared before United States District Attorney Devlin and asked that the papers be cancelled. Devlin complied with the Chinaman’s strange request.

Kwang for 35 years had been voting at every election. the only reason he gave was that his conscience troubled him and he wanted to be honest with the American people.

The San Francisco Call
(California)
August 18, 1909
Court Lifts Heavy Burden of Chinese
Kwang Lee Admits Fraud in Securing Naturalization and Has Papers Canceled
Just how long it takes, a Chinese to find out his conscience hurts him was determined yesterday in the United States district court. Until Kwang Lee came before United States District Judge John J. de Haven, to admit that through fraud and deceit he had been a United States citizen since 1874, the problem had never been legally decided. Now it is known that 35 years is the time limit for those whose ways are peculiar to repent and confess.

According to. the complaint filed by United States Attorney Robert T. Devlin, against Kwang Lee, he was naturalized in St. Louis in 1874. He represented that he was born of white parents in China. He enjoyed all the privilege of citizenship, learned to speak English well, and became a man of prominence in the community.

In truth Kwang Lee was born of Chinese parents. He did not resemble the Mongolian type, but the deception worried him as he grew older. “That he could vote for a president of the United States did not compensate for the sleepless nights spent in thinking of the wrong he had done.

Finally, he visited United States Attorney Devlin and requested that his citizenship be canceled and this was the decision in the only case of Chinese naturalization fraud appearing on the calendar of the federal courts in California. Kwang Lee, of the faith of Confucius, left the courtroom a happier man. He had been relieved of a heavy burden.

Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat
(New York)
August 19, 1909
Kwang Lee No Longer an American Citizen
He Will Probably Get a Pension, However, for His Service in the Navy During the Civil War.
San Francisco. Aug. 19.—Kwang Lee, a Chinese who has held citizenship papers for 35 years, was stripped of his adopted nationality yesterday by the action of the United States district court which cancelled the certificates of naturalization issued by the court of criminal correction of St. Louis in 1874.

Despite the fact that he is now denied by his adopted country, Kwang Lee, who is 69 years old, is likely to become one of its depend­ents, for he served honorably as an enlisted man in the United States navy in the Civil war and his body bears the scars of five wounds received when fighting under the stars and stripes on a Mississippi gunboat. Because of his age, he is now entitled to a pension of $20 a month and has declared that he will apply for it at once.

Arizona Republican
(Phoenix, Arizona)
August 19, 1909
Chinese American No Longer Citizen
Though He Will Become a Pensioner of the United States
San Francisco, Aug. 18. Kwang Lee, a Chinese who held citizenship papers for thirty-five years, was stripped of his adopted nationality today by the action of the United States district court, which cancelled his certificate of naturalization issued by the court of criminal correction in St. Louis in 1874. Lee is in all probability the only Chinese ever granted even for a time American citizenship through naturalization, as the supreme court of the United States declared many years ago that immigrants from the Celestial empire were not eligible to citizenship.

Despite the fact that he is now denied by his adopted country, Kwang Lee, who is 69 years old, is likely to become one of its dependants [sic], for he served honorably as an enlisted man in the United States navy during the Civil war, and his body bears scars of five wounds received while fighting on a Mississippi gunboat.

Because of his age, he is now entitled to a pension of $20 a month for his services, and he has declared that he will apply for It at once. The cancellation of Lee’s papers followed his attempt to register as a voter at the primary election held yesterday. Last March Lee’s papers were taken away by the immigration officials at Nogales, Arizona, but he procured others by applying to the courts of St. Louis.

The Auburn Citizen
(New York)
August 19, 1909
After 35 Years
Naturalization Papers of Chinaman, Civil War Veteran, Cancelled.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The Binghamton Press
(New York)
August 19, 1909
Chinaman Loses His Nationality
Veteran of Civil War Deprived of Naturalization Certificates.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

Bisbee Daily Review
(Arizona)
August 19, 1909
Only Chinese Ever Naturalized Loses Citizenship Rights
Oriental Who Fought for Country in Civil War Has Papers Taken.
Celestial Bears Scars of Honorable Wounds
San Francisco, Cal. Aug. 18.—Kwang Lee a Chinese who has held citizenship papers for thirty five years was stripped of his adopted nationality today by the action of the U. S. district court which cancelled the certificate of naturalization issued by the court of criminal correction in St. Louis in 1874.

Lee is in all probability, the only Chinese ever granted even for a time, American citizenship through naturalization as the supreme court of the United States declared many years ago that immigrants from the Celestial empire are not eligible for citizenship. Despite the fact that he is now denied by his adopted country, Kwang Lee, who is sixty nine years old, is likely to become one of its dependents for he served honorably as an enlisted man in the United States Navy during the civil war and his body bears the scars of five wounds received while fighting on a Mississippi gunboat. Because of his age he is now entitled to a pension of $20 a month for his services and has declared he will apply for at once.

The cancellation of Lee’s papers followed his attempt to register as a voter at the primary election held yesterday. Last March Lee’s papers were taken away by the immigration officials at Nogales, Arizona but he procured others by applying to the courts of St. Louis.

Boston Evening Transcript
(Massachusetts)
August 19, 1909
A New Chinese Puzzle
Odd Complications in Case of Kwang Lee

The Day
(New London, Connecticut)
August 19, 1909
Uncle Sam Must Pension a Chink

Elmira Star-Gazette
(New York)
August 19, 1909
Chinese Veteran Is Now an Alien
Cancellation of Court’s Naturalization Certificates Robs Him of Citizenship—Can Get Pension
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The Evening Post
(New York)
August 19, 1909
Stripped of His Citizenship
Chinese Wounded in Civil War Deprived of Naturalization Papers.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The Evening Telegram
(New York)
August 19, 1909
Stripped of Citizenship After Thirty-Five Years
Chinese Who Was Wounded Five Times in Civil War, Has Rights Revoked
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The Evening Times
(Pawtucket, Rhode Island)
August 19, 1909
Chinese Veteran of Civil War Disowned
Uncle Sam Cancels his Certificate, Issued in 1874—He’s 69, Now.
San Francisco, Aug. 19.—Kwang Lee, a Chinese who has held citizenship papers for 15 years, was stripped of his adopted nationality yesterday by the action of the United States District Court, which cancelled the certificate of naturalization issued by the Court of Criminal Correction of St. Louis in 1874.

Despite the fact that he is denied by his adopted country, Kwang Lee, who is 69 years old, is likely to become one of its dependents, for he served honorably as an enlisted man in the Untied Sates navy in the Civil War and his body bears the scars of five wounds received when fighting under the Stars and Stripes on a Mississippi gunboat.

The Kansas City Star
(Missouri)
August 19, 1909
A Chinese Loses His Vote.
But Kwang Lee Was a Sailor in the War and Will Draw a Pension.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

Los Angeles Herald
(California)
August 19, 1909
Chinese Loses Citizen’s Rights
Man Who Served Country Is Repudiated at Last
Application of Kwang Lee for Vote at Primary Election Calls Attention to His Unique Case
(see Bisbee Daily Review)

Los Angeles Times
(California)
August 19, 1909
Only Chinese Citizen, Civil War Veteran, Loses Rights.

The Morning Mission and Riverside Enterprise
(California)
August 19, 1909
Chinese Stripped of His Citizenship
San Francisco. Aug. 18.—Kwang Lee, a Chinese who has held citizenship papers for 35 years was stripped of his adopted nationality to-day by the action of the federal court, which cancelled his certificate on the ground that the supreme court decided many years ago that emigrants from the Chinese empire are ineligible to citizenship.

Kwange [sic], who is 69 years old, as likely to become a ward of the country, however, as he has served honorably in the navy during the civil war, and bears scars of five wounds received while fighting under Farragut. He is entitled to a pension, which he will apply for at once. Revocation of his citizenship followed his attempt to qualify for the primary held yesterday.

The Ogden Standard
(Ogden City, Utah)
August 19, 1909
Chinaman Stripped of Adopted Nationality
San Francisco, Aug. 19.—Kwang Lee, a Chinese who has held citizenship papers for thirty-five years, was stripped of his adopted nationality yesterday by the action of the United States District Court, which cancelled the certificates of naturalization issued by the court of criminal correction of St. Louis in 1874.

Despite the fact that he is now denied by his adopted country, Kwang Lee, who is 69 years old, is likely to become one of its depend­ents, for he served honorably as an enlisted man in the United States navy in the Civil war and his body bears the scars of five wounds received when fighting under the stars and stripes on a Mississippi gunboat. Because of his age, he is now entitled to a pension of $20 a month for his services, and has declared that he will apply for it at once.

The Rome Daily Sentinel
(New York)
August 19, 1909
Chinese a Union Veteran.
But After 35 Year of Citizenship He Is Stripped of His Papers
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

Salt Lake Evening Telegram
(Utah)
August 19, 1909
p2 c2: Curious Position of California Chinaman
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The San Diego Weekly Union
(California)
August 19, 1909
Chinese Loses His Citizenship
Naturalization Papers Taken Out in 1874 Are Revoked in San Francisco.
(see Los Angeles Herald)

The San Francisco Call
(California)
August 19, 1909
Aged Chinese Served 3 Years in Civil War
Order Canceling Naturalization Certificate Signed
An order canceling the naturalization certificate of Kwang Lee, a Chinese who had enjoyed the privileges of United States citizenship since 1874, was signed yesterday by United States District Judge John J. de Haven.

It was further ascertained by those investigating the case that Kwang Lee served in the United States navy during the civil war, having enlisted immediately after his coming to the country. His service was mostly on the Mississippi river, and he was wounded five times. As testimony to this he exhibited the scars. He had applied for a pension and would probably have been in receipt of it within a few weeks.

He registered in San Francisco July 22 of this year, and would have voted at the coming election.

San Francisco Chronicle
(California)
August 19, 1909
Near Citizen Is a Naval Veteran
Kwang Lee May Get a Pension, Even If He Has Lost Franchise.
United States District Judge De Haven cancelled yesterday the certificate of naturalization which had been issued to Kwang Lee by the Court of Criminal Correction of St. Louis in 1874 as having been issued to a Chinese person. The Supreme Court of the United States decided long ago that at no time has the law recognized a Chinese person as eligible for citizenship of this country through naturalization.

Kwang Lee has a history such as few of his race can boast. He was born in China in 1840 and came to this country in 1861. A year later he enlisted in the United States Navy, served principally on gunboats on the Mississippi, was wounded five times and was honorably discharged after his enlistment of three years had expired.

One of the wounds is plainly shown by a deep scar on his head, but though he has applied for a pension he does not make the wounds ground for his claim, but the recent law which grants a pension to every veteran of the Civil War who served for ninety days or more and is 60 years of age. If granted, his pension will amount to about $20 a month.

For six years past he has lived in Arizona and at Nogales. Last March an Immigration Inspector took from him the certificate of naturalization issued to him by the St. Louis court. He procured a certified copy, however, and came to this city, where he registered as a voter on the authority of this certified copy of an illegal document June 22d last.

The matter was taken up by Chief Examiner Blazer of the Federal Naturalization Bureau, and as Kwang Lee admitted his Chinese birth, an application to the court was filed for the cancellation of his citizenship papers, which was granted yesterday.

The Syracuse Herald
(New York)
August 19, 1909
Citizenship Taken From Veteran of Civil War
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The Topeka State Journal
(Kansas)
August 19, 1909
Will Ask for Pension.
A Chinaman Is Deprived of Naturalization Papers.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The Watertown Daily Times
(New York)
August 19, 1909
Veteran of Civil War Loses His Citizenship
Chinaman Who Has Held Citizenship Papers for 35 Years Without a Country.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

Auburn Democrat-Argus
(New York)
August 20, 1909
After 35 Years
Naturalization Papers of Chinaman, Civil War Veteran, Cancelled.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

Auburn Weekly Bulletin
(New York)
August 20, 1909
After 35 Years
Naturalization Papers of Chinaman, Civil War Veteran, Cancelled.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

Binghamton Press and Leader
(New York)
August 20, 1909
Chinaman Loses His Nationality
Veteran of Civil War Deprived of Naturalization Certificates.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The Boston Journal
(Massachusetts)
August 20, 1909
Denied Citizenship Will Draw Pension
Chinaman Has Papers Cancelled, but Relies on Record as Sailor in Civil War
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

Daily People
(New York, New York)
August 20, 1909
Strip Chinese of Nationality. Although He Was Long Naturalized and Fought Under the Flag
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

The New York Times
August 20, 1909
Made Alien After 35 Years.
Chinese Veteran of Civil War Stripped by Court of His Citizenship.
(see Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat)

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
(New York)
August 20, 1909
Strange Action of a Federal Court.
San Francisco, Aug. 19.—Kwang Lee is a California Chinaman. Whether he is a heathen or a Christian doesn’t appear in the record.

But what does appear, according to a dispatch from San Francisco, is that Kwang Lee is 69 years of age, has held his papers as a citizen of the United States for 35 years, was an enlisted man in the United States navy during the Civil War, and received five wounds, the scars of which remain, in that service on a Mississippi gunboat.

These facts would seem to entitle Kwang Lee to some respect and consideration from the American people and courts. The sentiment of the people, we believe—excepting possibly a few relics of the late Dennis Kearney—is all right, but the justice on the bench of the United States District Court in San Francisco—whatever his name may be doesn’t appear—has cancelled the certificates of naturalization issued to Kwang Lee by a court in St. Louis in 1874.

If that action of the court was determined by the law, the statue under which it was taken is a disgrace to the Federal government. If it was determined by the caprice of prejudice of the judge, he is unworthy of a seat on the Federal bench.

Kwang Lee, as a Civil was veteran, and in view of his age, is entitled to a pension of $20 a month, and he is going to apply for it.

The Waterville Times
(New York)
August 20, 1909
Chinese to Seek Pension.
Court After Thirty-five Years Annuls His Citizenship.
San Francisco, Aug. 20.—Kwang Lee, a Chinese who has held citizenship papers for thirty-five years, has been stripped of his adopted nationality by the United States district court.

Kwang Lee served in the navy in the civil war and was wounded when fighting on a Mississippi gunboat. Because of his age he is entitled to a pension, and will apply for it.

Boston Herald
(Massachusetts)
August 23, 1909
Have you tried to think how Kwang Lee, a Chinaman in San Francisco, must feel, he who for 35 years has been cherishing the belief that he was a citizen of the United States and has been living up to its duties, but who now has had a certificate of naturalization, issued in 1874, cancelled? Nor will the cruelty of the process be mitigated by the fact that he fought through the civil war on a gunboat, suffered grievous wounds and is still entitled to a pension.

Middlebury Register
(Vermont)
August 27, 1909
It is rather tough on a Chinaman even to be denied entrance to the United States after holding citizenship papers for thirty-five years, but this happened to one Kwang Lee of San Francisco last week, when by the action of the United States District Court certificates of naturalization issued by the court of criminal of St. Louis in 1874 were cancelled.

Evening Bulletin
(Honolulu, Hawaii)
August 31, 1909
Cancel Citizenship of a Chinese.
Suit has been brought by the government to cancel tho naturalization of Kwang Lee, a Chinese, who was admitted to citizenship in the Court of Criminal Correction at St. Louis, Mo., on August 19, 1874. The government contends that Kwang Lee, not being a white person, was not entitled to admission to citizenship. Kwang admitted in an affidavit filed with the complaint that his certificate of naturalization was illegally procured and consents to its cancellation.

Tombstone Epitaph
(Arizona)
September 5, 1909
Citizenship Rights Were Cancelled
The rights of citizenship which had been enjoyed by Kwang Lee, the Chinese storekeeper here, who is married and has a family of eight children, was cancelled by the court at Tombstone recently, it being found that Lee was not entitled to the same. He had been voting and in other ways exercised the duties of American citizenship since the civil war, and it seems his rights in the matter had never before been successfully challenged. —Nogales Times.

Kwang Lee Became Citizen in 1874

Among the recent cases filed in the United States court at Tombstone is one entitled the United States of America, petitioner, vs Kwang Lee, respondent, brought by United States Attorney J. L. B Alexander of Arizona. The petitioner asks the court to set aside the naturalization papers granted to the Chinaman by the St. Louis Court of Correction on the 10th day of August, 1874, of which proceedings the United States had no notice or knowledge. The action is entitled a petition to cancel certificate of naturalization.

The following is a copy of the papers as granted to the Chinaman by the above mentioned court of Missouri:

“Kwang Lee, a native of China, who applies to be admitted a citizen of the United States, comes and proves to the satisfaction of the court that he has resided in the United States at least five years, and in the State of Missouri at least one year, immediately preceding [sic] this application, during which time he has conducted himself as a man of good moral character, attached to the principals of the constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same; and the court, moreover, being satisfied that said applicant has taken the preparatory steps required by the laws of the United States concerning the naturalization of aliens, he declaring here, in open court, upon oath, that he will support the Constitution of the United States, and that he doth absolutely renounce and abjure forever, all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign power, prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the emperor of China, of whom he is present a subject, therefore the said Kwang Lee is admitted a citizen of the United States.”

The naturalization laws of the United States specify that no subjects of the celestial kingdom are eligible to become citizens of this country.

Lee has been a resident of Nogales for many years and voted at all elections. 

Street’s Pandex of the News
July, August, September 1909
Naturalization,
Chinese:
—Kwang Lee of San Francisco; papers issued in 1874 revoked by District court; Kwang had served in Civil war and announces intention of asking for pension.
Aug. 19

Tombstone Epitaph
(Arizona)
November 6, 1910
U.S. vs Kwang Lee, petition to cancel certificate of naturalization.

Tombstone Epitaph
(Arizona)
May 28, 1911
Upon the motion of the United States attorney the case pending up on the civil government docket against Kwong Lee, a petition to cancel certificate of naturalization, was ordered dismissed.

U.S. Navy Pensions Index, 1861-1910

Name: Kwong Lee

Publication: M1408
Pension Approval: Disapproved
File Number: 39400
Certification Number: 57333
Fiche Number: 13053
Archive: National Archives and Records Administration


A comment at the Association to commemorate the Chinese serving in the American Civil War has a connection:

Hi Gordon,
Just received some info from a Chinese Woman whose great grandfather was in the union army. His photo is currently on the cover of a book titled: An American Chinese Album….His name his Lee Kwong….Any info on this guy?...
Thanks, Monty Hom

Pictured below is the cover of the book, The Chinese American Family Album. On the copyright page is the cover caption: Lai Ngan (center left) and Lee Kwong (center right) with their children in Nogales, Arizona, around 1905.

Kwong Lee is profiled in the National Park Service book, Asians and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War.

(Updated February 26, 2015; next post: Ling Kubser)