Old Town in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Lt. George H. Derby
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2015
1. Lt. George H. Derby Marker
Dedicated to Lt. George H. Derby U.S.A
1823 1861
Humorist, Engineer, and Builder of the first dike to safeguard San Diego Bay as a navigable harbor.
San Diego Chapter D.A.R.
San Diego Chapter S.A.R.
Nov. 3, 1962
Erected 1962 by San Diego Chapter D.A.R., and San Diego Chapter S.A.R.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1816.
Location. 32° 45.181′ N, 117° 11.665′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Old Town. It can be reached from Harney Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2476 San Diego Avenue, San Diego CA 92110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Derby Dike (here, next to this marker); Derby-Pendleton House (a few steps from this marker); The Whaley House Courtroom (within shouting distance of this marker); James "Yankee Jim" Robinson (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Town San Diego Timeline
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Derby-Pendleton House. The Derby-Pendleton House currently houses the offices of Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO). (Submitted on June 14, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
2. George Derby House. The Historic American Buildings Survey record for the George Derby House. Contains several pages of information, as well as six photos of the house. (Submitted on June 19, 2015.)
Additional commentary.
1. Derby-Pendleton House
The forerunner of the modern-day prefab, an outstanding small Greek Revival home built in 1851 in Portland, Maine, disassembled and shipped around the horn to San Diego, and reassembled that same year by Juan Bandini as a wedding gift to his daughter Dolores and Charles Johnson. It later served as the home of Lt. George H. Derby, Army engineer, and Capt.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2015
2. Lt. George H. Derby Marker
— Submitted June 17, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
1960
3. George Derby House, 4017 Harney Street, San Diego, San Diego County, CA
Significance: This house was the home of Lt. George Horatio Derby, 1835-55, when, writing (during his leisure time) for the San Diego Herald under the pen names of John P. Squibb and John Pheonix, he introduced a form of Western humor which caused him to be recognized as the "father of the mid-19th century school of far Western humor and America's first wit," which greatly influenced writers such as Mark Twain and Lewis Grayland Clark...
Note that this image of the home (courtesy of the Historic American Building Survey) is at the 3877 Harney (the original) location.
Note that this image of the home (courtesy of the Historic American Building Survey) is at the 3877 Harney (the original) location.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2015
4. Derby-Pendleton House.
The house was moved (again) from 3877 Harney Street to make way for U.S. 101 (Interstate 5) and was placed here on October 17, 1962.
Photographed by Wikipedia
5. George Derby
George Horatio Derby (April 3, 1823 – May 15, 1861) 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: E.Clampus Vitus. -- Wikipedia
His wit as both an engineer and Twain-era-humorist spawned a fan club that still exists today: E.Clampus Vitus. -- Wikipedia
Photographed by George H.Derby, 1899
6. Yours Respectively,
John P. Squibob
John P. Squibob
Derby's self portrait in the guise of John P. Squibob, forms the frontispiece of his 1889 book Phnixiana.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,068 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3. submitted on June 19, 2015. 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 14, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
