Gustavus Franklin Swift was the founder of the Swift meat-processing company in Chicago. He was born 24 June 1839 in Sagamore (then part of Sandwich), and died 29 Mar 1903 in Chicago. GF Swift was selling livestock even as a child in Sandwich. Around 1860, he apparently saw opportunity in Eastham, setting up a butcher shop there, and he married Ann Mariah Higgins there on 3 Jan 1861. They soon moved to Barnstable, then Clinton MA, Chelsea MA, Albany NY, and finally to Chicago in 1875. Ann (aka Annie Maria) was b. 13 Aug 1843 in Eastham, and d. 19 May 1922 in Chicago. Their daughter Helen wrote that she lived in 6 places before she was 6 years old. Two of their children wrote books about the family. Louis Franklin Swift (b. 1861 in West Sandwich, d. 1937 in Chicago) co-wrote, with Arthur Van Vlissingen, "The Yankee of the Yards. The biography of Gustavus Franklin Swift," 1927. Chicago & New York: AW Shaw). It's largely an homage to his father and a description of the business. I've posted 2 chapters which Cape Codders may be interested in, at http://capecodhistory.us/books/GFSwift.htm. Helen (Swift) (Morris) Neilson (b. 1869 in Barnstable, d. 1945 in Chicago) wrote "My Father and My Mother" (Chicago: privately printed, 1937.) I found it to be a much more entertaining and informative book than her brother's, with anecdotes about her siblings, grandmothers and uncles, as well as her parents. I've posted the whole book, a large file (340 KB) plus illustrations, at http://capecodhistory.us/books/Swift-FatherMother.htm. Helen was energetic and pampered, and this contrasts with her much poorer and thriftier Cape Cod grandmothers. I particularly appreciate the anecdote about her uncle, Noble Swift, teasing his former church congregation. The genealogies here are those included in Helen Swifts's book: SWIFT GENEALOGY I. WILLIAM Born in England, married Joan ——. Came to America about 1630. Died at Sandwich about 1643. II. WILLIAM Born in England, and accompanied his father to America. Married Ruth — —. Died at Sandwich, January 1705 or 1706. III. WILLIAM Born August 28, 1654. Married Elizabeth ——. Died at Sandwich, April or May, 1701. IV. JOSEPH Born November 1687 at Sandwich. Married, first, to Mercy ——; then Mrs. Rebecca Morton. V. THOMAS The son of Joseph and Rebecca. Date of birth unknown. Married Abigail Phillips, November 15, 1752 at Sandwich. Died at Sandwich, 1803. VI. NATHANIEL Born December 31, 1764. Married Elizabeth Ellis of Plymouth, November 24, 1785 at Sandwich. Died at Sandwich March 25, 1843. VII. WILLIAM Born September 20, 1795. Married Aurelia Parker and, later Sally Sears Crowell, at Sandwich. Died 1868. VIII. GUSTAVUS FRANKLIN Son of William and Sally Swift. Born, June 24, 1839, at West Sandwich. Married Ann Higgins January 3, 1861, at Eastham. Died March 29, 1903, in Chicago. 160 HIGGINS GENEALOGY I. RICHARD Born in England. Married Lydia Chandler after he came to America and, later, Mrs. Mary Yates. Died 1677 or earlier. II. BENJAMIN Born in 1640 at Plymouth. Married Lydia Bangs. Died at Eastham, March 14, 1690 or 1691. Prominent in King Philip's War. III. ICHABOD Born November 14, 1662 at Eastham. Married Melatiah Hamblin. Died at Eastham June 1, 1728. IV. EBANEZER Born April 15, 1701 at Eastham. Married first, Abigail Cole; second, Content Handing; and, third, Mrs. Phoebe Snow. Died at Eastham, probably in 1788 or 1789. V. ELKENAH Born November 12, 1729 at Eastham. Son of Abigail Cole. Married Sarah Knowles. Died at Eastham November 4, 1815. VI. JOSHUA Born October 15, 1775 at Eastham. Married Mrs. Mercy (Mayo) Gill. Died at Eastham, April 25, 1845. VII. JOSHUA Born February 16, 1812. Married Mariah Holmes Cobb, daughter of Scotto and Phoebe Cobb. Died November 1, 1852. VIII. ANN MARIAH HIGGINS Only daughter and second child of Joshua and Mariah (Holmes) Cobb. Born at Eastham, August 13, 1843. Married Gustavus Franklin Swift January 3, 1861, at Eastham. Died May 19, 1922, in Chicago. THE DESCENT OF GUSTAVUS FRANKLIN SWIFT FROM ELDER WILLIAM BREWSTER I. WILLIAM BREWSTER Elder William Brewster of the May/lower. II. PATIENCE BREWSTER Married Thomas Prence. III. MERCY PRENCE Born at Plymouth about 1631; married John Freeman, 1649-1650; died at Eastham 1711. IV. THOMAS FREEMAN Born at Eastham, 1653; married Rebecca Sparrow, 1673; died at Harwich, 1715-1716. V. MERCY FREEMAN Born at Eastham, 1674; married Paul Sears, 1693; died at Harwich, 1747. VI. EDMUND SEARS Born at Yarmouth, 1712; married Hannah Crowell, 1743; died at Harwich, 1796. VII. EDMUND SEARS Born at Yarmouth, 1743-1744; married Hannah Taylor, 1771; died at Brewster, 1832 VIII. SALLY SEARS Born at Yarmouth, 1780; married Paul Crowell, 1797; died at West Sandwich, 1861. IX. SALLY CROWELL Born at Dennis, 1804; married Capt. William Swift, 1822; died at West Sandwich, 1885. X. GUSTAVUS FRANKLIN SWIFT Born at West Sandwich, 1839; married Ann Mariah Higgins, 1861; died at Chicago, 1903. -- Sincerely, David Kew webmaster@capecodhistory.us David_Kew@alum.mit.edu please visit my web site, http://CapeCodHistory.us/