Old John Neptune
Old John Neptune was elected Lieutenant-Governor at Indian Island, Old Town, Maine, in 1816, a life-time position. Born into the Eel clan, John had a powerful father, John Neptune, who had been the tribe's war chief. As the most powerful leader of the Penobscot for almost half a century, he was popularly known as "the Governor." Also feared, he had the reputation of being a medicine man.
Shortly after Maine achieved statehood, the areas of the Penobscot and St. John rivers were mapped with important guidance from Penobscot Indian Lt. Gov. John Neptune. .
In The Maine Woods, writer Henry David Thoreau described an 1853 visit to Neptune at his Old Town home.
