The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-30
Gustavus Franklin Swift
Dies at His Home in Chi
cago of Internal Hemor-
rhages Resulting From
Surgical Operation = De-
ceased Leaves Fortune a
From s7,OOO,OOO to s1O,,
100000.

CHICAGO, March 29.-Gustavus
FRANKLIN Swift, president of the Swift
Packing company, died at his home.
4S4S Ellis avenue, early today. of in
ternal hemorrhages, resulting from a
surgical operation performed several
days ago. Mr.. Swift was sixty-tbree
years old
The hemorrhage which caused Mr..
| Swltts death, resulted from an opera-
tlon for an affection of the gall blad-
der performed March %. His death
was entirely unexpected both by Mr..
SWlfts family and his physicians. He
mad given every indication of recov-
cry and all danger was considered
passed. In fact SO hopeful was every
one, including himself, for his sDeedv
recovery that his son Herbert l. Swift.
VINO had been summoned from Boston
left Saturday, to return to Boston
This son was intercepted at Harris
burg, Pa, tonight with a telegram an
nouncing the death of his father.
Mr.. Swift had been suffering some
! time from bladder trouble and week
ago an operation was determined uDon
TO give him relief 1t was not expect-
ed the operation would prove especial
ly dangerous and nothing happened to
cause change in this hopefulness un-
til this morning. His Improvement was
stopped suddenly by a hemorrhage.
which the doctors were unable to
check and which caused his death in a
short time. No arrangements for the
funeral have yet been made.
Leaves Large Fortune.
Gustavus Franklin Swift began his
business career as a butcher and died
leaving fortune estimated at from
$IOOO,OOO to 100000. This fortune
was made in the course of forty-five
years. He was born at Sandwich,
Mich, in June, 1899. He opened a
small butcher shop in his native town.
He removed to Boston when he was
less than thirty years of age. He re-
mained in Boston until 1875, when he
came to Chicago.
In this city he engaged in the same
business which he had left in Massa-
chusetts and developed the department.
of shipping live cattle to Eastern mar
kets.
In 1877, he evolved plans for the first
refrigerating car and dressed meats
instead of live animals were shipped to
Eastern cities. He was the pioneer in
this kind of business and it was not
long before others saw the advantages
Of his system and initiated him.
Mr.. Swift was not only the oldest
packer" at the time of his death, but
he was the originator of the method
that has made many large fortunes.
From the small plants started in 1877
has developed a great corporation with
branches in st. Louis, Kansas City, st.
Joseph, Omaha, st. Paul and Fort
Worth. Tex, and with distributing Of
fees in every important city and town
In the United States and with repre-
sentatives in the leading cities of Eu-
rope, Asia and Africa. It's employees
number 22.607. Upon its capital stock
of s25, 100000 the sales of 1902 exceed
ed 5000. 100000.
Mr.. Swift was the father of eleven
children, nine of whom survive him,
Louis F., Edward F., Helen L., wife Of
Edward Morris: Charles H., Herbert
L., George H, Ruth NJ, wife OF Ernest
r. Eversy; Gustavus Franklin, Jr., and
Harold NJ. all of whom live in Chicago.
Mr.. Swift trained all of his sons in
the packing business.
His oldest son, Louis F. Swift, is
vice president of the company and all
the other sons hold responsible posi-
tions in It.
J. Ogden Armour, when told of Mr..
Swift's death, said:
'I am very sorry to hear 1t. Mr..
Swift was a great man, a great organ
izer and had great ability. He left
a business of tremendous proportions,
but left 1t in good shape, so that 1t
cannot be hurt by his death. His sons
are fully competent to manage il, in
fact, have been doing so for some time.
over a year ago Mr.. Swift began to
turn the reins over to them, as though
preparing for this"