Rev Wong King Huo served the Methodist Church in Sibu until he was 70 years of age, although the official age of retirement was 50 in those days. Rev Wong had arrived from Minqing 6 Du, the same district of Wong Nai Siong. He was in the second batch of the Foochow pioneers led by Wong Nai Siong. .
Sibu Foochows remember him by having a road named after him.
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| (left to right) Wong King Huo, Tiong Kung Ping and Chang Ta Kang |
One of the first Methodists to arrive in Sibu with Wong Nai Siong in 1901 (Spring), he was the first Sibu Foochow to study in the Singapore Theological College and upon graduation was appointed to be in charge of Sing Ang Tong in Sibu.
A man who was very upright, well spoken and intelligent, Rev James Hoover trusted him very much. The far sighted James Hoover learnt about the planting of rubber in Malaya and brought back the first rubber seedlings to Sibu. He entrusted them to Rev Wong to plant in Ensurai.
He worked closely with Rev James Hoover for 32 years, leading the Foochows in business, rubber cultivation and pepper growing.
He worked closely with Rev James Hoover for 32 years, leading the Foochows in business, rubber cultivation and pepper growing.
Rev Wong's family was also the first family to start kerosene and petroleum business to serve the motor launches when Hoover introduced the diesel engines to run motor launches. They started the Hock Chu Huo Shell station, an enterprise which also acted as a bank for the rural Foochows who placed their cash in their care after selling their rubber sheets in Sibu.
He served the Methodist Church for more than 50 years of his life, while at the same time raised a good family, started a family business for and with his children. One of his grand daughters Wong Siong Ding became a top level police of the state when many Chinese would not consider a vocation in the armed forces.
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| Map of Sibu showing Wong King Huo Road. |
In 1950 he retired at 70. He had served as District Superintendent, and pastor in his active service of 50 years. He was witness to the 50 th Anniversary of the Foochow Settlement in Sibu. He must have felt a great sense of achievement.
He was a good friend to my great grandfather and grandfather, Tiong Kung Ping, who was also a rubber planter.
He was a good friend to my great grandfather and grandfather, Tiong Kung Ping, who was also a rubber planter.
1 comment:
Hi! Thank you so much for writing this. Wong King Huo was my grandma's father. My grandmother was Wong Siew Sing. I never got to meet him of course. But this helped me understand my family history better.
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