Muscogee County GaArchives Photo Person.....Pemberton, John S. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 June 2, 2007, 7:40 pm Source: Sesquicentennal Supplement IV, Ledger-Enquirer Name: John S. Pemberton Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee/photos/pemberto13411gph.jpg Image file size: 97.1 Kb Coca-Cola Inventor Was Local Pharmacist By Grant Jackson Ledger Staff Writer Dr. John S. Pemberton, Druggist. The title isn't much for the former Columbus resident who would shape the drinking habits of the nation, and who's secret formula would be tasted around the world. Dr. John S. Pemberton, who lived in Columbus for much of his life and who is buried here, was the inventor of Coca-Cola. Columbus residents can visit The Pemberton House, which is located at 11 Seventh St., and see how the famed pharmacist lived and worked. A small apothecary shop, located in an original outbuilding, has been carefully furnished to approximate the surroundings in which Dr. Pemberton worked. Although Dr. Pemberton,did not perfect the Cocao Cola formula until he moved to Atlanta in 1869, he began his work as a pharmacist in Columbus and much of his life has been preserved by the Historic Columbus Foundation. John Styth Pemberton was born in Knoxville, Ga., in Crawford County in 1833. He moved with his family to Columbus at the age of nine and attended elementary schools in Columbus. He later studied pharmacy and medicine at "an eclectic school of medicine" in Macon. As a pharmacist he was allowed to use the title of, "Doctor," Dr. Pemberton returned to Columbus in 1853, married Ann Eliza Clifford Lewis of Columbus and launched the career that would culminate with the invention of the world's most famous soft drink. He and his wife obtained a house at 1017 Third Avenue for $1,950 in 1855. This was the first house in Columbus in which Dr. Pemberton lived. He lived there for five years from 1855 to 1860. The house was acquired by the Historic Columbus Foundation in 1969 and moved to its present location in the Historic District. The building was restored and later dedicated during Historic Columbus Week in 1972. The house his "downtown home," was given to the Historic Columbus Foundation by the Coca-Cola Co. as a memorial to Dr. Pemberton. HFC began the restoration with funds donated by "friends of Coca-Cola." The home was restored to its original style, a simple, four-room Victorian cottage. The home is furnished in the period of 1855-60 and contains many of the items once owned by the Pemberton family. A number of these were given to the museum by Mrs. Pemberton's great-niece, Mrs. Mercer Sherman of Albany, Ga. Dr. Pemberton's portrait hangs over the mantle. During his 16 years in business in Columbus, Dr Pemberton operated Pemberton - Nuchoils Druggists at the Cook Hotel; Pemberton-Carter Druggists, 83 Broad St. "At the Sign of the Blue Mortar;" and Eagle Drug & Chemical House and J. S. Pemberton Wholesale Drugs, 93 Broad St. At the Eagle Drug and Chemical Co.. Dr. Pemberton sold drinks. But, he also dispensed many of his own concoctions. He used his soda fountain as a means testing flavors on the public. Many researchers believe that a cordial tonic for ladies - "French Wine of Cocoa" - was the forerunner of the internationally famous Coca-Cola. Dr Pemberton's connection with Columbus almost lost. Although long-time Columbus residents knew that Dr. Pemberton had lived here and had heard from their parents and grandparents about his "French Wine of Cocoa," very little was known about him and the location of his downtown home had all but been forgotten. Another Columbus resident, E.D. Murphy, undertook the research that led to the rediscovery of the Pemberton home on Third Avenue. Murphy had been born and reared in the Pemberton home. He found that David Mulford eas the first owner and the probable builder. After the Pemberton family moved out of the house, it was occupied by the widow of Matthew W. Murphy and her family. E.D. Murphy is the grandson of the Matthew Murphys. Edward W. Neal was the restoration architect for the House and Jesse F. Davis did the actual reconstruction of the home. Dr. Pemberton sold the house in 1860 when he moved his family to a house at 1801 Fiftieth St. in Columbus. On the grounds of this latter residence as a captain in the Confederate Army during the War Between the States, Dr. Pemberton organized and drilled members of Pemberton's Cavalry. Many pioneer residents of the Columbus Community were enrolled in the unit which serve under Gen. Joe Wheeler. Pemberton was a lieutenanat colonel when the war ended. Dr. Pemberton and his family moved to Atlanta in 1869. Because of failing health and financial problems he was forced to sell two-thirds of the fomula that would soon be named "Coca-Cola." He recieved $1,200. Within months the balance of the fomula was sold for $550, or a total sale of $1,750 for a formula that would be worth millions. Billions? Dr. Pemberton died on Aug. 16, 1888. He is buried in historic Linwood Cemetery in Columbus. Special Sesquicentennal Supplement IV Ledger - Enquirer, Sunday, May 7, 1978, S-25 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee/photos/pemberto13411gph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb