Blakely, Georgia 1825-1975
The Early County grand jury, in 1825, appointed a commission of five to select and name a new county seat. This commission was composed of Zachariah Cowart, Benjamin Collier, David Smith, Nevin McBryde, and Freeman Carden. They chose the present site giving it the name Blakely in honor of Captain Johnston Blakeley, a United States Navy hero of the War of 1812, who in September 1814, disappeared at sea with his entire crew and ship, the U.S.S. Wasp.
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Markerman.