John Powell: a Blackmon or a Napier?

© S. Lincecum

If you follow this blog much, you'll likely know I don't usually post without a photo relating directly to the subject. I'm afraid I don't have one this time, but I feel the information is too valuable for genealogists not to share.

Name changes in a family's history is not all that uncommon, but I dare say finding "proof" of one might be. The following newspaper article actually explains a change of this sort within the NAPIER family of Macon, Georgia. An article following that corrects a mistake in the first. Don't you just love newspapers for genealogy? [Note: GenealogyBank is my go to site for historical newspapers! See ad in sidebar.]

Macon Telegraph (Georgia)
11 October 1907, pg. 3

MR. J. P. BLACKMON DIED IN OKLAHOMA

WAS WELL KNOWN SON OF MR. AND MRS. HENDLEY V. NAPIER, OF MACON

Mr. J. P. Blackmon, aged 33 years, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hendley V. Napier, of this city, died Thursday from the effects of an operation for appendicitis at the hospital at El Rino [sic], Oklahoma.

Mr. Blackmon is survived by his parents of this city, by his wife, Mrs. Emma Methina Blackmon, two children, Hendley Napier Blackmon and Dorothy Virginia Blackmon, a brother, Hendley V. Napier, Jr., and two sisters, Mrs. W. A. Edwards, of Logan, Idaho, and Miss Ida Page Napier, of this city.

Mr. Blackmon changed his name many years ago from Napier to Blackmon, the name of his mother's family, in order to preserve it.

He was well known and liked in Macon as he was raised here from boyhood and was a first honor graduate of Gresham High School several years ago.

From Macon he went to Washington to take a departmental position and from there he was sent West, where he was in charge of the Kiowa Indian agency at Abundarke, Oklahoma. This position he has since held and his work at the agency [has] been highly commended in the Government reports by his superiors in the Department of the Interior at Washington.

The news of his death will be received with sorrow by many friends as he was very popular in Macon. The funeral and interment will occur at Anndarke [sic], Okla.

The Macon Daily Telegraph (Georgia)
15 October 1907

MR. JOHN POWELL BLACKMON LAID TO REST IN ROSE HILL
The funeral of Mr. John Powell Blackmon occurred at the residence of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hendley V. Napier, yesterday at 12:30 o'clock. The Rev. John M. Northrop, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church officiated. Interment was in Rose Hill cemetery. The following gentlemen acted as pall bearers: Messrs. J. P. Holmes, Louis Juhon, C. P. Roberts Jr., and J. W. Blount, Dr. Holmes Mason, and Prof. C. B. Chapman.

I hope this information is helpful to someone!