George Derby

Who was George Derby?

George Horatio Derby was an early California humorist. He attended West Point with Ulysses S. Grant. Derby used the pseudonym "John P. Squibob" and its variants "John Phoenix" and "Squibob." Derby served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Topographic Corps. In his spare time, he wrote humorous anecdotes and burlesques, often under the guise of his pseudonyms.

His wit as both an engineer and Twain-era-humorist spawned a fan club that still exists today: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Clampus_Vitus