2/24/2013:
What did American author Sinclair Lewis have in common with many other North Dakotans?
Although he was born in Sauk Centre, Minnesota in 1885, Lewis’s connection to the state was far closer than that, according to reports around this date in 1940. Under the name of Harry S. Lewis, he invested some surplus cash in farm mortgages, including farms in North Dakota. When one of the farms defaulted, a foreclosure became necessary—to which he responded with a power of attorney, filed with the register of deeds of Walsh County.
The papers reported it was “only $1,000 of Sinclair Lewis’ Money,” and “like the rest of us, Sinclair likes to get his money back plus a little interest.”
Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker
Sources:
http://english.illinoisstate.edu/sinclairlewis/sinclair_lewis/index.shtml
Grafton News and Times, February 21, 1940