Sigvart J. Tande was born September 18, 1858 in Hedemarken, Norway.
Sigvart's education was received in the common and high schools of Skarpsno and Ringsaker. He also attended the Agricultural College in 1876 and 1877. He was confirmed in 1873 in a class of 155 at Trondhjem, Norway.
Sigvart Tande came to America in 1878 to Grand Meadow, Minnesota. He came to Griggs County in 1881. He sold books, taught parochial school, and worked for farmers, including R. C. Cooper. Sigvart and his father went to Mayville to work during threshing. Sigvart became a citizen of the United States at Cooperstown June 12, 1888, after having made his Declaration of Intention in Minnesota.
Sigvart Tande filed a homestead claim on Section 3-148-59, containing 137 acres on March 8, 1890 during the presidency of Chester A. Arthur. Sigvart and some of sisters and brothers lived there for a time. This land now belongs to Ralph Reinhart.
At his brother, Ole's, wedding Sigvart as best man, met Mathilda Inga Halvorson. They were married shortly afterwards on January 8, 1895 by Reverend Bue in Bear Creek Lutheran Church at Grand Meadow, Minnesota Mathilda was born December 9, 1864 and was a seamstress in a St. Paul hotel. Her parents, Anders and Aba Halvorson came from Valdres, Norway. Sigvart bought 160 acres in Section 12, from M. W. Skinner on March 8, 1895, for $585.54. The small house, granary, and sod stable were on the land. That same year, 1895, there was a prairie fire while Sigvart was in Cooperstown. Mathilda fought the fire around the sod stable. At this time she was carrying her first child. She took their cow along to an island in the river, and stayed there until Sigvart came home to plow around the buildings. The fire never did reach the house.
During the next thirteen years seven children were born to the Tandes:
Albin, Cora, Melvin, Hjalmer and Freda, two dying in infancy. Tonette Hegna, a midwife, attended the births.
Albin attended a school one-half mile cast of the farm with Clara Nelson as his first teacher. Then the schoolhouse was moved away and school was held in a room at Tom Olsons for about two years until a schoolhouse was built. Mathilda Tande boarded the teacher for many years for $3 to $4 a month.
Sigvart continued buying land from his brother, Ole Tande, the Trostad heirs, and Louise French until he had a farm of 600 acres.
Some of the first members of the West Prairie Lutheran Church were:
John Tande, Andreas Tande and families, and Sigvart J. Tande. Peter Tande was the first baby baptized. Sigvart led the singing in the church and also taught parochial school. He played the violin. They drove to church in a surrey.
Later Sigvart Tande and family joined the Valley Grove Lutheran Church and Mathilda was one of the charter members of that ladies aid. When that church was moved to Kloten they became members of the Sundahl Lutheran Church at Aneta. The children attended Norwegian parochial school every summer.
Sigvart J. Tande served as school clerk for ten years and Township clerk for ten years. He served as chairman of the County Board for five years. Mr. Tande, a republican, was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1910, where he served one term.
Mr. Tande died suddenly of a heart attack, at his home October 2, 1916. His sons continued to farm and his wife, Mathilda, lived there until her death January 13, 1932.
Survivors include Melvin Tande and family, Aneta, who still reside on the 840 acre farm
Albin goes to Arizona for the winter
Mrs. Guy (Cora) Lee, McVille, North Dakota
Hjalmer Tande, Moorhead, Minnesota
and Mrs. Anton (Freda) Peterson, Devils Lake, North Dakota
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 378