[1][2][3] Born in Zhangzhou, Fujian, Qing Empire, he migrated to the East Indies in the early nineteenth century.
[3] Among others, he owned the particuliere landen or private domains of Bekasi, Karang Tjongok, Papisangan, Gaboes and Loewong.
[3] His widow, Jo Heng Nio, founded in 1897 the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van vastigheden Jo Heng Nio en Kan Keng Tiong, a company to manage the family's vast landholdings.
[8][3] His daughter, Kan Oe Nio, was married to Han Oen Lee, Luitenant der Chinezen of Bekasi; and another daughter, Kan Pan Nio, was married to Lie Tjoe Hong, the 3rd Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.
[1] Through his daughter, Oe Nio, he became the grandfather of Hok Hoei Kan, arguably the most important Chinese-Indonesian statesman of the late colonial period.