Final answer:
The person referred to in the question is Albion Small who was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1864 and later became a professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual described is Albion Woodbury Small. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1864, Small initially received his graduate training in Economics but transitioned to become a professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan.
Albion Woodbury Small is recognized as one of the founding figures in American sociology. He was a key figure in establishing sociology as an academic discipline in the United States and played a significant role in shaping the early development of sociology as a field of study. Small was also influential in founding the first department of sociology in the United States at the University of Chicago in 1892 and served as the first chair of the department.
His contributions to sociology included advocating for the professionalization of sociology, emphasizing the importance of empirical research and scientific methods in sociological inquiry, and promoting the idea of sociology as a means to address social issues and improve society. Small's work laid a foundation for the growth and development of sociology as an academic discipline in the United States.