The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-08-07
MRS. EMMA E. FORSYTHE.
What a Former San Franciscan Has
Accomplished.

'" FORMER san franciscan Has
Accomplished.
The report of Consul Griffin, stationed
at Sydney, contains some important
features. The Government is urged to
to pay more attention to our interests in
the Pacific islands. A wealthy woman,
whose father was an American, is very
anxious that the United States should
secure foothold in this region.
Mrs. Emma E. Forsythe, a daughter
OF Jonas M. Coe, formerly Consul at
Apla' Samoa, and his wife, who was
the daughter of a Samoan chieftain,
owns plantation of 10000 acres, en-
ploys fifty Europeans and several hun
ored natives, owns several steamers
and is building others and conducts a
business larger than the combined
business of all the civilized residents of
the island of New Britain. Mrs. For
sythe is now thirty-eight years of age.
She received her education at Sydney
and San Francisco.
Besides being highly accomplished
she Is lady of very prepossessing ap-
pearance and of remarkable energy
and intelligence. At the time of her
marriage she was acknowledged to be
the most graceful and beautiful woman
in the island. She made such an i'm
preston upon Lord Pembroke that he
sketched her portrait at length in the
character of Coe in his work entitled
South Sea Bubbles"
Although married to an Englishman,
Mrs. Forsyth never renounced her
nationality. After the death of her hus-
band, which occurred in the year 1872,
she took up her residence with her uncle,
E. II. Coe, in San Francisco, and at
later period joined her fathers family at
Apia. Samoan Islands. She rendered
assistance to her father in keeping the
books of the consulate.
She is quoted as an authority on native
language and dialects, and during Con-
sui Grifin's term of Office as Consul at
Samoa she, on various occasions, acted
as his amanuensis and interpreter, and
translated nearly all his correspondence
with the Samoan Government. She has
always taken great interest in the trade
and commerce of the South Sea Islands,
and is, perhaps, better posted on the
subject than any other citizen of the
United States residing south of the
equator.
In 1879 she removed to the islam d of
New Britain, and, having purchased from
the natives several large tracts of land
there, she formed a partnership with
Thomas Farrell, and in the same year
she established one of the most extern
sive business enterprises in the South
Sea Islands, under the name of Thomas
Farrell & Co., planters and trading
merchants.
The headquarters of the firm were es-
tablished at Raaluan, near one of their
largest plantations, which now includes
Ii, 500 acres of the choicest land in New
Britain, on which are raised, among
other products, vast quantities of cotton.
Her property and that of the firm within
the Imperial German protectorate is es-
timated at 10000 acres, and that out
side of the protectorate of 10000 acres,
making total of 150,000 acres, nearly all
of the landed estate being owned by Mrs.
Forsythe.
Consul Griffin says in conclusion:
"Mrs. Forsythe rendered very effective
aid to me in the preliminary steps which
secured to the United States for period
of ten years the use of the harbor of
Pago Pago as coaling station, and not
long since she made Fan offer to the
American Government of twenty acres
of ground on her own property in the
island of Malulu for another coaling
station. The island of Malulu is out
side of the German protecorate, and as
no nation has as yet set up claim to it,
she is quite anxious that her offer be
accepted. u itsburg Dispatch.l