Mr Axmann ’ s name was written on the back of this photo ( original on left ) together with the words “ Vailele 1881 ”, so the presumption is made that he is the man on the left from the previous image , and the location was the Godeffroy / DH & PG plantation . Daughter Emma was born on Funafuti atoll , Tuvalu , in 1868 , at a time when Godeffroy ’ s was expanding its operations rapidly throughout Polynesia . The Axmanns may have run a trading post for Godeffroy ’ s on the atoll . At some point they moved back to Samoa where Mr Axmann was probably a plantation overseer .
An interesting thing happened within a year or two of this photo being taken – Feodor Axmann headed back to Germany on a visit and all contact with him was lost . After some time , Malietoa Laupepa , who was then at the height of his power , advised his sister that she should remarry . It was speculated that Feodor had died or was not returning . This time Etesa is believed to have taken a Samoan as her husband . She had a daughter to this union whose name was reportedly Luisa .
Composite from Spemann Family Collection
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