Welcome to Raising the Dead in Georgia
Dr. Ambrose Baber was a soldier and surgeon during the War of 1812, serving directly under General Andrew Jackson. He arrived in Macon in 1823 and was Macon’s first physician. Dr. Baber was a state senator, a founding member of Christ Episcopal Church, the U.S. Charge d’ Affaires to Sardinia from 1841-1844, a grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, and one of the earliest advocates of building the Central Georgia Railroad. When the Marquis de Lafayette came to Macon in 1825, Dr. Baber was chosen to officially greet the Marquis.
The end of Dr. Baber’s life came 1846 when he gave a patient a prescription to be filled at the pharmacy at the corner of 2nd and Mulberry St. (the present location of Lawrence Mayer Florist). When the pharmacist, Dr. George Payne, filled the prescription, he became concerned about the formula. Dr. Payne told the patient not to take the medicine until he checked back with Dr. Baber. Later, when Dr. Baber visited the patient’s home, the patient raised questions about the prescription. Dr. Baber was so confident in the formula that he poured himself a dose and drank it. Several minutes later, Dr. Baber died.
Further research found that the prescription had been correctly copied from the published Ellis’ Formulary, sanctioned by the Medical College of Philadelphia. However, a typographical error was found in the book, and all copies were eventually recalled.
These pictures are of Dr. Baber’s monument, which was erected by the Masonic Brotherhood.
