Yee Pat Ling

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna do my best to honor every word. This is Yee Pat Ling's story, as recorded in Bell County, Texas. Now settle in, because this one deserves to be told right.

Yee Pat Ling was born on August 1, 1865, and he came to this country as a Chinese immigrant, arriving in the United States in 1898. That's what he stated himself, on the 1910 U.S. census, so you know the man owned his story. And what a story it turned out to be.

He applied for citizenship, and by 1899 he was already operating his restaurant in Temple. Already. One year after arriving, and the man had a famous restaurant running in central Texas.

Now, the word famous is right there on the marker, so I'm not exaggerating for effect. That's just what it was. 1903 brought another chapter. Yee Pat Ling wed Pearl Hester Elliott, and together they built a family of six daughters.

Six. The kind of household that fills a table and then some. Here's what makes this story sit heavier the longer you think on it.

Immigration policy at that time barred Chinese passage to the United States. Barred it. And yet Yee Pat Ling was here, running a respected business, raising a family, earning a place in his community through his restaurant's popularity and his entrepreneurial prowess.

Those are the marker's words. The man's Americanization influenced his standing as a community member in Temple, even as the law itself said people like him weren't supposed to be there at all. He lived until January 21, 1916.

The marker notes something worth carrying with you down whatever road you're on today. Asian communities' histories in Texas are often undertold. Often undertold.

But Yee Pat Ling is right there in the record, in the census, in the marriage, in the restaurant that Temple knew by name. He exemplifies, the marker says, the contributions that immigrants made in Texas despite discrimination. Despite it.

That word does a lot of work. So does his name. Remember it.

What the marker says

Yee Pat Ling (Aug. 1, 1865- Jan. 21, 1916), a Chinese immigrant, lived as a respected businessman in Temple due to his restaurant's popularity and entrepreneurial prowess. On the 1910 U.S. census, ling stated that he arrived in the United States in 1898. After applying for citizenship, ling was operating his famous restaurant by 1899. In 1903, he wed Pearl Hester Elliott, and the couple later had six daughters. Although immigration policy barred Chinese passage to the U.S. at this time, Ling's Americanization influenced his status as a community member. Asian communities" histories in Texas are often undertold, but individuals like Yee Pat Ling exemplify the contributions that immigrants made in Texas despite discrimination. (2014)