This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2022) |
Dato' Toh Ah Boon (simplified Chinese:
Toh Ah Boon | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Born | 1860 Singapore |
Died | 1 April 1932 Johor Bahru |
Spouse | Tan Kow Neo (陈九 |
Children | 10 |
Early life
editToh was the son of Toh Kim Swee, who died when he was still a child. He lived with his uncle who have a provision shop on Arab Street, Singapore.
When he was 15 years old, he accompanied his uncle to Johor Bahru as his uncle started his business as a contractor.
Career
editAfter his uncle died, he took over the business. Toh was successful in his business as he invested in the landed property and also purchased a granite quarry at Pulau Nanas to supply granite to the Johor Government and the contractors of the public works in Singapore and Johor, which included the Mole in Singapore Harbour.
He was also involved in tapioca and rubber planting at Gunung Pulai and Jalan Skudai area. He retired in 1915 and his business was taken over and managed by his sons Toh Gim Seng and Toh Ah Moh.
Philanthropy
editToh contributed much in Johor Affairs especially in education. He donated $20,000 and founded the Toh Ah Boon Scholarship Fund to enable students born in Johor to continue their study at the College of Medicine or Raffles College.
When the Johor Military Force proposed to expand their rifle range and buy over the adjacent land which belonged to Toh, he donated the land and also $20,000 to build a pavilion at the rifle range.
He also donated $10,000 to the Raffles College for the election in 1919. He also contributed much in the sport sector and donated a cup which bears his name to the Royal Johor Polo Cup.
He was honoured by the Sultan the DPMJ in 1925 and the SPMJ Dato in 1929. He was a member of the State Council and the Anti- Malaria Board for many years. He was also once Chairman of the Johor Bahru Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Town Board.
Jalan Dato' Toh Ah Boon near to Tampoi, Johor Bahru is a road named after him.[1]
Personal life
editToh's ancestry traced back to Nan'an, Fujian, China. His ancestors are from the Hoon Tau villages (
Toh had seven sons and three daughters. Toh's sons include Gim Seng, Toh Ah Moh, G.H. Toh, Toh Gim Bah, Toh Gim Soo, Toh Gim Phee, and Toh Gim Cheng. Toh's daughters include Toh Boo Neo, Toh Chee Neo, and Toh Beng Neo.[3]
On 1 April 1932, Toh died in his Johor Bahru's residence in Malaysia. Toh's tomb is located in Johor Bahru Chinese Cemetery in Malaysia.
References
edit- ^ a b "【
新旧 对照】卓 亚文墓 的 故事 –地方 –大 柔 佛 –人文 足 迹".星 洲 网 Sin Chew Daily Malaysia Latest News and Headlines (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 17 August 2022. - ^ "FUNERAL". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 7 April 1932. p. 10.
- ^ a b "DATOH TOH AH BOON". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser.
External links
edit- https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19320404-1.2.36.aspx
- http://libapps2.nus.edu.sg/sea_chinese/documents/nan_yang_ming_ren_ji_zhuan_2b.pdf –
南洋 名人 集 传:卓 亚文君 – 222 page - https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025224/http://www.nanyang.com/node/475916 – 观文论史:
卓 亚文奖学金 •张礼铭 - http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/chz/chineseoverseas/nan_yang_ming_ren_ji_zhuan.pdf –
南洋 名人 集 传