Howard Abbott
Encyclopedia
Howard T. Abbott was an American football
player, lawyer and judge. He played college football
and was the starting quarterback
for both the University of Minnesota
in 1886 and the University of Michigan
in 1889. He was also the captain of the first Minnesota Golden Gophers football
team in 1886. He was a lawyer in Duluth, Minnesota
, starting in 1891 and later became a judge.
in 1867, the son of Asa T. and Fannie B. (Cross) Abbott. Starting at age eight, Abbott attended Army schools, as his father was serving in the military. In 1879, he moved with his family to Minneapolis, Minnesota
, where he attended public schools.
where he studied for three years. While he was a student at Minnesota, he was the captain and quarterback of the first Minnesota Golden Gophers
football team in 1886.
as a law student. While studying law, he was the starting quarterback for the 1889 Michigan Wolverines football team
. The 1889 team led by Abbott finished with a 1–2 record and were outscored 76–0 by Cornell
and the Chicago University Club. He was also a reserve quarterback on the 1890 team
.
, where he began practicing law in 1891. In November 1895, he married Gertrude P. Markell, and they had two children. He was a member of the firm of Abbott, McPherran, Lewis and Gilbert. He later served as a judge. In 1935, Judge Abbott was honored as a pioneer of Gopher sports in a reunion held at the Minnesota Union on the 50th anniversary of the first football team.
from coronary thrombosis. He had come to the Mayo Clinic
three weeks earlier and died at Worrell Hospital.
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, lawyer and judge. He 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...
and was the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for both the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1886 and 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...
in 1889. He was also the captain of the first Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
team in 1886. He was a lawyer in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, starting in 1891 and later became a judge.
Early years
Abbott was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1867, the son of Asa T. and Fannie B. (Cross) Abbott. Starting at age eight, Abbott attended Army schools, as his father was serving in the military. In 1879, he moved with his family to Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, where he attended public schools.
University of Minnesota
In 1886, Abbott enrolled at the University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
where he studied for three years. While he was a student at Minnesota, he was the captain and quarterback of the first Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
football team in 1886.
University of Michigan
In 1889, Abbott enrolled 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...
as a law student. While studying law, he was the starting quarterback for the 1889 Michigan Wolverines football team
1889 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1889 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1889 college football season. The Wolverines played their home games at Ann Arbor Fairgrounds.-Schedule:-Varsity letter winners:...
. The 1889 team led by Abbott finished with a 1–2 record and were outscored 76–0 by Cornell
Cornell Big Red football
The Cornell Big Red football team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation...
and the Chicago University Club. He was also a reserve quarterback on the 1890 team
1890 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1890 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1890 college football season. The team compiled a 4–1 record and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 129 to 36. The team captain was William C. Malley. George P. Codd, who later served as the Mayor...
.
Legal career and family
After receiving a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1890, Abbott moved to Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, where he began practicing law in 1891. In November 1895, he married Gertrude P. Markell, and they had two children. He was a member of the firm of Abbott, McPherran, Lewis and Gilbert. He later served as a judge. In 1935, Judge Abbott was honored as a pioneer of Gopher sports in a reunion held at the Minnesota Union on the 50th anniversary of the first football team.
Death
In October 1939, Abbott died at Rochester, MinnesotaRochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
from coronary thrombosis. He had come to the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
three weeks earlier and died at Worrell Hospital.