The following article, from the Wednesday, Aug. 2, 1972 Cape Cod Independent, tells the story of
Nobel Parker Swift and the Swift's Meat Packing Compay that he helped start.
The Swift Family of Sagamore, "The Meat-Packing People", goes back almost to the very
beginning of Cape Cod and the town of Sandwich. The first ancestor in the New World
was William Swift of Bocking, Essex, England who came to New England in 1634 and to
Sandwich in 1637.
William is not, however, the hero of our story. Rather we turn to a more recent, and
perhaps better known scion of the old family, Nobel Parker Swift, who was born in what
was West Sandwich, (Now Sagamore) on September 5,1830 and who died at the family
homestead on July 15,1911.
In his early years "Nobel" Swift was a drover. That is he, with his father, was a cattle
driver. Cattle, Sheep and hogs, to be more accurate. They would travel to the Brighton
Market, buy livestock and drive the herds down-country to Sagamore and Sandwich.
There the cattle were butchered and dressed and sold to meat dealers all down the Cape.
It was from such humble beginnings early in the last century, that the great Swift's Meat
Packing Industry began and from these Sagamore shores that "Swift's Premium" had its
beginnings.
At first, Nobel Swift went in business with his brothers when they too went into the
dressed meat business. Gustavus and Nathan Swift began the now-famous Chicago plant
with the financial help of Nobel. Although Nobel Swift held an interest in the Chicago
operations, he never left the family homestead and he maintained the family business on
the Cape.
Nobel Swift was not only engaged in the cattle and butchering business, he was also
involved in Cranberry Culture and was one of the early Bourne pioneers in that field. He
eventually became one of the largest landowners of the Sandwich...in fact, of the Upper
Cape, and made great success of his enterprises. Through a keen foresight and an
uncommon business sense, Nobel Swift accumulated a fortune of his own.
He is described as a "man of fixed ideas"..."was not afraid to speak his mind whether in
town meetings or anywhere else."
In the "Legend Department" much has grown up around Nobel Parker Swift. Some folks
say it was he who drove Gustavus and Nathan out of Sagamore to Chicago with his
shrewd competition. It is also said that when he drove his herds down from Brighton he'd
keep the poor beasts from water during the last twenty miles so that when they finally got
to the brook in Sagamore...they'd drink enormous quantities of water...which would, of
course, raise their weight.
There is one story we like..true or not...about Nobel Swift. It is said that at one point he
was dropped from membership in the Methodist Meetinghouse which was close by...and
he'd sit and roar with laughter where the cackling and crowing would interrupt the
sermons.
There are a few other "Plain Tales" about Noble Swift which we would like to relate
here...but propriety prevents us from so doing. Let it be said, however, that Noble Parker
Swift had a short temper...and a monumental sense of humor and we wish we could have
known him.