Lewis House

The Lewis Residence is a fine example of late nineteenth-century Victorian style and represents the rich architectural milieu of Fargo's Third Avenue during that period. More significantly, however, the building was the home of Lieutenant Governor Robert S. Lewis (1856-1956), who was one of North Dakota's prominent political and business leaders in the early twentieth century.

On June 8, 1899, a building permit was issued to construct a residence for Lewis. The house was estimated to cost $12,000 and John Amer was contracted as the builder. During that same year, 1899, Lewis' residence was completed. After a series of owners, the American National Red Cross (Minn-Kota Chapter) purchased the property and house from the Robert S. Lewis estate on August 4, 1956. The building continues to be occupied by the Minn-Kota Red Cross Chapter office today. Lewis' grandson, R. C. Lewis, Jr., still resides in Fargo.

Robert S. Lewis was born in Tennessee and in 1868, he moved with his parents to Minnesota where he was educated. Lewis began his career as a clerk for a Minneapolis mercantile establishment. In 1882, he went to Fargo in Dakota Territory and worked as a clerk at the Red River National Bank. While employed there, Lewis was promoted from various positions--teller, assistant cashier, cashier--until, in 1897, he became vice president of the bank. Lewis, together with his brother, J. H. Lewis, acquired the bank's controlling interest. In 1902, the former was chosen bank president and in that same year, the Lewis brothers sold their interest. The Red River National Bank was later liquidated and its assets were merged with those of the First National Bank of Fargo. Lewis became a director of the latter institution. His initiative and resourcefulness led him, together with other business associates, to organize a financial institution in 1908 for the purpose of receiving savings deposits and performing other banking services. It was from this institution that the Dakota Savings Bank of Fargo was formed in 1916.

As an advocate of agrarianism, Lewis' interest in North Dakota farming continued throughout his life. In 1892, he purchased extensive acreage in the Buffalo area of Cass County. Eventually, Lewis was farming more than 10,000 acres and he became one of the leading farmers in the northwest territory. He has been credited with advancing the agricultural and livestock industries in the state. With rising prices, Lewis sold his Buffalo land holdings in 1910 and later bought 3,000 acres near Mapleton. His knowledge of the livestock industry resulted in his serving as secretary for the Fargo Packing Company. Despite his many business and agricultural activities, Lewis is best known for his political career. He was elected to the state senate in 1900 and served for four years in the legislatures of 1901 and 1903. The apex of his political career was his election as lieutenant governor of North Dakota when he served from 1907 to 1910 during Governor John Burke's administration. As an active member of the Republican party, Lewis was secretary of the Republican State Convention several times.

Lewis' activities were innumerable and in his obituary, the Fargo Forum praised his "colorful career in business [and] politics." Among the organizations with which Lewis was affiliated were: the Board of Control, which was in charge of North Dakota's penal and charitable institutions, as a member and later chairman; Fargo Board of Education, as a member and then president; Board of Trustees for the North Dakota Agricultural School, as a member; and Fargo Commercial Club (now the Chamber of Commerce), an organization dedicated to civic development, as president. Moreover, he headed the Cass County Red Cross and was chairman of the chapter for more than 20 years. Lewis was also a member of various fraternal organizations in Fargo.

Lewis' important contributions to the history of Fargo and North Dakota were recognized by Lewis F. Crawford in the History of North Dakota: "Robert S. Lewis was an influential executive in connection with pioneer banking enterprise in the City of Fargo, has been actively associated with the advancing of the progressive farming industry in North Dakota, and in the many years of his residence in this state he has stood exponent of loyal, liberal and constructive citizenship." The Lewis Residence, by virtue of the fact that it was the home of the former lieutenant governor, is a symbol and architectural memorial of Lewis' many achievements during his prolific career.