Looking for Great Grandpa Chin in Central California

[wally]

Hello, I am new to this forum. I am interested in searching for my Chinese American roots. My Great Grandfather’s name was Chin Hen Fee and was the superintendent of Chinese Miners at the New Idria Mines (mercury mine) in San Benito County, California in the 1880s. I believe he had one son, my grandfather (Chin Jee Chit, born 1888) and 2 other daughters. They were sent back to China in 1898. His younger sister was named Chin Jee Chee. I was told that my Great Grandfather remarried in California and we are the progeny of the 2nd wife. My grandfather re-entered the US in August, 1913 on the USS Korea into the port of San Francisco. I am not sure if he was detained at Angel Island and for how long. He spoke Toisanese from what I remember and according to the passenger manifest, he was from Chung Lai. I do not know if this is an actual village in Toisan. I cannot find any village in the Toisan province that resembles this. I was told my Great Grandfather died on a ship going back to China. He may have been an opium addict. 

[andytan]

Hi, Wally. It would be helpful to include the Chinese characters of your great grandfather's name(s), along with the Chinese characters for the name of the village, if you know them.

[wally]

I would like to send a picture of my grandfather’s tombstone. Is it necessary to use Postimage?

[wally]

Is this supposed to be an image?

[wally]

Ok. Now I see. My Grandmother on the right side of the tombstone came into the US aboard the Prince Arthur from Yarmouth to Boston 11/29/1922. The passenger manifest shows she came back with my Grandfather. Which means he went back to China again after his 1913 arrival. Unfortunately I do not have the Chinese characterizations for both my Great grandfather nor his village.

[wally]

Zhongli village, Taishan City