David Stone Libbey was a Maine river-driver, lumberman, farmer, Civil War soldier, inventor, machinist, hunter, and outdoor writer. This book includes the writings from his journal and articles he published between 1850 and 1904 under his pen name of 'Penobscot.'
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In Maine, the Penobscot River, before meeting the main branch leading to the Atlantic Ocean, has four branches that span throughout northern main. Libbey used the Penobscot pen name to signify his experience with this forested country during a time when many were interested in learning about the wildlife and conditions in the north woods.
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The editor of Forest And Stream, wrote of Libbey: "Penobscot knows the Maine country as well as any man living, and what he may write will be sure to be intelligent and authentic."
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This edition about Libbey's life from Maine author Tommy Carbone includes photographs of the time period and annotations giving the historical perspective of the writing.
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Discovered letters from David Libbey during his time with Maine's Company D, Ninth Regiment Infantry of the Civil War period have been added, providing his own perspective from the war front.
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In, "The Penobscot Man - Life and Death on a Maine River," Fannie Hardy Eckstorm wrote of Libbey, "He was one of Maine's thoroughbred woodsman and waterman, one of the most notable of our hunters, who, going to San Francisco, took a place in a stationer's store and handled paper by the quire and arranged perfumery on the closet shelves; and from there to the deserts of Nevada, in the seventies, when it was rough there, where he set up mining machinery and met western bad men, and he unarmed and unruffled made them behave themselves."
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Libbey led a varied and interesting life, with some near-death experiences. He came from a Maine pioneer family and he himself carved out a pioneer life, while also self-educating himself and amassing a large library of books. This is the story of his life and he deserves to be well remembered.