Ann Higgins Swift, widow of Gustavus F. Swift, founder of Swift & Company, died Friday afternoon, May 19, at the family home...after an illness of several weeks.

During her life Mrs. Swift saw the packing business which her husband started grow from practically nothing to a business of more than a billion dollars a year. During her years of association with her husband and sons her interest in the business never flagged.

She was born at North Eastham, Mass., August 13, 1842, her father being Joshua Higgins, of a pioneer family of that state. She was married to Gustavus F. Swift January 3, 1861, and came to Chicago with her husband in 1875.

The Swift family for many years lived in Emerald avenue adjacent to the stockyards, and Mrs. Swift until the time of her death retained an active interest in the affairs of her old neighborhood. The parish house of the Union Avenue M. E. Church was built as a memorial to her husband.

Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Swift, eight survive: Louis F., Edward F., Charles H. , George H., Gustavus F., Jr., and Harold H. Swift, and Mrs. Francis Neilson and Mrs J. D. Maguire.

Funeral services were conducted by Bishop Thomas Nicholson and the Rev. Dr. W. R. Wedderspoon and, and in harmony with the life she led, were of an unostentatious nature. The active pallbearers were all representatives from Swift & Company.

"Her benefactions reached out into all countries of the world, " said Bishop Nicholson in his eulogy. "She gave carefully, advisedly and intelligently, with the greatest simplicity. She was a profound believer in Christianity, a mother deeply devoted to her family and a splendid type of American womanhood."

From: The National Provisioner, Vol. 66, From January 7 to June 24, 1922, inclusive, May 27, 1922, pg. 44.

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