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Dr. Albert Gallatin Mabry (1810-1874)On the larger stage Dr. Albert Gallatin Mabry is known for his essays on congestive fever and his papers on the cause and treatment of yellow fever and malaria. He is also known for his work with the Alabama Medical Association. Dr Mabry was instrumental in the conversion of the old statehouse in Tuscaloosa into the Alabama Insane Hospital In 1853. Locally, in Selma he was a practicing physician, successful businessman and a dedicated public servant. |
Dr. William Sharp directed Mabry’s first studies of medicine. The last days of Dr. Sharp's life were spent under the care of Dr. Mabry in his Selma Alabama home.
In 1837, Mabry graduated at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania and for a short time practiced medicine in Harris county Georgia. In 1843 he moved to Selma, where he entered a partnership with Dr. Drewry Fair. When Dr. Fair left Selma Dr. Mabry became partners with Dr. James Kent in 1855.
In 1845 Mabry married Martha Riggs Tartt, a widow of substantial wealth and social standing. Together they had six children. Mrs. Tartt’s daughter Gertrude Thomas Tartt married Captain Catesby AP Roger Jones of the U.S. and Confederate Navies. Captain Jones commanded the C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimack) during the historic naval battle with the Monitor. He was later commander of the CSA Naval Foundry and Ordnance Works At Selma Alabama
Dr. Mabry's noted medical accomplishments were in the field of congestive fever and yellow fever. He was also instrumental in founding the first insane hospital at Tuscaloosa, Alabama and was appointed a trustee by the Governor. He served as president of the Alabama Medical Society (later known as the Dallas County Medical Society) in 1844, and in 1867 served on the Selma City board of health.
In about 1857 Dr. Mabry retired from medical practice, and served for ten consecutive years in the Alabama legislature as a states rights democrat from Dallas County. From 1862 to 1868 he served on the Selma City Council and on the City School Board. In 1864 He lost a bid for mayor of Selma. He was a vestryman and prominent member of the St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church.
An astute businessman Dr. Mabry was vice-president of the Selma, Rome, & Dalton Railroad, and a director of the Selma & Meridian Railroad. After the Civil War he attempted to regain his lost fortunes by reopening his medical practice.
Dr. Albert Gallatin Mabry died in Selma, February 23, 1874, of pneumonia. His Selma Alabama home still stands at 629 Tremont Street and is part of the annual pilgrimage tour.
Note:
Like most experts of his time Dr. Mabry falsely believed that the cause of Yellow fever came from underground. He theorized that the Selma epidemic of 1853 was due to excavations on Water and Broad streets, and propitiated by the excavated earth to adjacent streets. In 1881 Cuban doctor and scientist Dr. Carlos Finlay proved that yellow fever is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. His theory was confirmed in 1900 by a team led by U.S. American Army surgeon, Walter Reed, MD.
Description by Brant & Fuller contributed by Dr. B. H. Riggs:
"He was a man of medium size, about five feet eight inches in height, and Probably never exceeded 140 pounds in weight. His health was never robust. He Was one of those small, wiry, dark haired men, so often met with, who is hardly? Ever quite well, and hardly ever seriously sick".
bibliography:
Mabry Tyson's Genealogy Collection http://cssvirginia.org/tyson/mabry/agm10.htm
Selma; Her Institutions And Her Men John Hardy 1879
Brant & Fuller (1893)
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/al/dallas/bios/gbs462mabry
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