Biography
Fred Shizutaro Toyota was born March 18, 1885 and a native of Hiroshima Prefecture. He arrived in the Untied States in 1905. After working as an interpreter and foreman for various railroad companies, he was put in charge of a Japanese labor camp of about 250 men for the Nevada Consolidated Copper Corporation at Ruth and McGill, Nevada in 1912. He remained in this position until 1941, when he was arrested and interned on the suspicion of loyalty to an enemy nation, stemming from the fact that he had been sending money back to Japan on behalf of some of his workers. In the span of December 1941 to Janauary 1944, he was interned at Fort Missoula, Montana; Fort Sill, Oklahoma: Fort Livingston, Louisiana; and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He died on May 22, 1959 from a lingering illness.
Kame Toyota (né.e Tetsumura) was born July 10, 1894 and also a native of Hiroshima Prefecture. She married Fred S. Toyota on August 17, 1916 and arrived in the United States in 1917 to join her husband. Prior, she taught elementary school in Hiroshima. During her husband's internment, she worked tirelessly to appeal charges against him.
Together, they had five children: Yoshiko, Toshiko, Fred Taro, Shizuko, and Kimiko.
From the guide to the Toyota family papers, ca. 1910-1961, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.)
