Yee Pat Ling
Temple, Bell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
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)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Yee Pat Ling arrived in the United States around 1898, during the era of the Chinese Exclusion laws that barred most Chinese immigration, and built a popular restaurant in Temple that made him a respected local businessman. In 1903 he married Pearl Hester Elliott, and the couple raised six daughters. His success and standing in the community defied the discrimination Chinese immigrants faced across the country.
Why it matters
His life records the often-overlooked presence and contributions of Asian immigrants in Texas at a time when federal law was designed to exclude them.
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Related people
- · Yee Pat Ling
- · Pearl Hester Elliott
Themes & tags
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