"A Civil War veteran who knew Lincoln." That's plausible in 1928. Not likely, given the actuarial tables, but possible. Wikipedia:

"In 1929, inspired by a carpenter named 'Lem Putt' from his hometown of Urbana, Illinois, Sale wrote The Specialist, a play about an outhouse builder.." It was made into a book as well, and sold well. "For many years—even after his death—"Chic Sale" was used as a euphemism for an outhouse. He is known to have found this unflattering, calling it "a terrible thing to have happen."

Died in 1936 at the age of 51; pnuemonia.