Benjamin H. Southworth
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Harrison Southworth (November 1, 1878 – January 3, 1924) was an American football
player, physician and surgeon. He was a member of the University of Michigan
's 1901 "Point-a-Minute" football team
that finished the season 11-0, outscored opponents 550 to 0, and won the first college football bowl game, the 1902 Rose Bowl
. Southworth was one of 15 players who traveled from Ann Arbor to play in the first Rose Bowl game.
in 1899 and played college football
on the 1900 and 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
s. He was a member of the famed 1901 "Point-a-Minute" team that finished the season 11-0 and outscored opponents 550 to 0. He appeared in games during the 1901 season at center, left tackle, and left guard. He was one of 15 players whose expenses were paid by Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, allowing Michigan to field a team in the 1902 Rose Bowl
, which Michigan won by score of 49 to 0. A profile of the 1901 team noted, "Southworth, the big guard, is a junior medic. He has the weight, and with an increase of speed will develop into a 'Varsity player."
in Chicago
, graduating in 1903. He became a doctor practicing allopathic medicine
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Southworth was living in Schoolcraft Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan
with his wife Kathryn. In a draft registration card at the time of World War I
, Southworth indicated that he was a physician and surgeon in Schoolcraft. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, he was living in Schoolcraft Township with his wife. Southworth and his wife had four children, Maynard (born 1906), Benjamin (born c. 1908), Marian (born c. 1912) and Genevieve (born c. 1920). Southworth died from diabetes mellitus
in January 1924.
His son, Maynard N. Southworth (1906-1968), attended medical school at the University of Michigan and was a member of the varsity wrestling and baseball teams in the late 1920s.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, physician and surgeon. He was a member of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's 1901 "Point-a-Minute" football team
1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1901 college football season. In their first year under new head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan finished the season undefeated with an 11–0 record, outscored their opponents by the unprecedented total of 550...
that finished the season 11-0, outscored opponents 550 to 0, and won the first college football bowl game, the 1902 Rose Bowl
1902 Rose Bowl
Originally titled the "Tournament East-West football game," what is now known as the Rose Bowl Game was first played on January 1, 1902 in Pasadena, California, starting the tradition of New Year's Day bowl games.The inaugural game featured Fielding H...
. Southworth was one of 15 players who traveled from Ann Arbor to play in the first Rose Bowl game.
Early years
Southworth was born in 1878 on a farm in Reading Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan. At the time of the 1880 United States Census, he was living on the family farm in Reading with his parents, J.L. and Emily Southworth, and three older brothers, H.E., H.D. and J.B.University of Michigan
Southworth enrolled as a medical student at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1899 and played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
on the 1900 and 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
1901 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1901 college football season. In their first year under new head coach Fielding H. Yost, Michigan finished the season undefeated with an 11–0 record, outscored their opponents by the unprecedented total of 550...
s. He was a member of the famed 1901 "Point-a-Minute" team that finished the season 11-0 and outscored opponents 550 to 0. He appeared in games during the 1901 season at center, left tackle, and left guard. He was one of 15 players whose expenses were paid by Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, allowing Michigan to field a team in the 1902 Rose Bowl
1902 Rose Bowl
Originally titled the "Tournament East-West football game," what is now known as the Rose Bowl Game was first played on January 1, 1902 in Pasadena, California, starting the tradition of New Year's Day bowl games.The inaugural game featured Fielding H...
, which Michigan won by score of 49 to 0. A profile of the 1901 team noted, "Southworth, the big guard, is a junior medic. He has the weight, and with an increase of speed will develop into a 'Varsity player."
Medical career and family
Southworth later attended Rush Medical CollegeRush Medical College
Rush Medical College is the medical school of Rush University, a private university in Chicago, Illinois. Rush Medical College was one of the first medical colleges in the state of Illinois and was chartered in 1837, two days before the city of Chicago was chartered, and opened with 22 students on...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, graduating in 1903. He became a doctor practicing allopathic medicine
Allopathic medicine
Allopathic medicine refers to the practice of conventional medicine that uses pharmacologically active agents or physical interventions to treat or suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic processes of diseases or conditions. It was coined by Samuel Hahnemann , a homeopath, in 1810...
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Southworth was living in Schoolcraft Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Schoolcraft Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Schoolcraft Township is a civil township of Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,260 at the 2000 census. The township is named for Henry Schoolcraft, noted for conducting many early land surveys throughout Michigan....
with his wife Kathryn. In a draft registration card at the time of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Southworth indicated that he was a physician and surgeon in Schoolcraft. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, he was living in Schoolcraft Township with his wife. Southworth and his wife had four children, Maynard (born 1906), Benjamin (born c. 1908), Marian (born c. 1912) and Genevieve (born c. 1920). Southworth died from diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
in January 1924.
His son, Maynard N. Southworth (1906-1968), attended medical school at the University of Michigan and was a member of the varsity wrestling and baseball teams in the late 1920s.