Hans H. Sandvig Biography


	This biography appears on pages 616-617 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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        HANS H. SANDVIG, one of the leading agriculturists and 
representative citizens of Minnehaha county, was born in Norway on the 
18th day of October, 1848. Reared on a farm, he early selected 
agriculture for his life work and followed the same in his native land 
until 1870, at which time he came to the United States and settled in 
Goodhue county, Minnesota. After spending three years there in 
successful prosecution of his chosen vocation, he, in the fall of 1873, 
changed his abode to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, where he took up a 
homestead which he improved and upon which he lived and prospered until 
the latter part of 1880. In December of that year Mr. Sandvig moved to 
Lyons township, where he continued to reside until the spring of 1903, 
when he rented his farm and took up his residence in Baltic, which 
place he has since made his home, living practically a life of 
retirement though still devoting much attention to his large 
agricultural interests and to the management of his business affairs. 
        
        Mr. Sandvig owns a valuable farm, consisting of four hundred 
and forty acres, all in cultivation, and well improved with good 
buildings, and, everything considered, there are few as fine tracts of 
land as his in the county of Minnehaha. It is admirably situated for 
agricultural and livestock purposes, being fertile, well watered and 
capable of producing abundantly all the grains and vegetable crops 
grown in South Dakota. Mr. Sandvig cultivates the soil according to the 
most approved methods, employs the best modern machinery, and by 
systematic and energetic effort seldom fails to realize large returns 
for the time and labor expended on his fields. In the matter of live 
stock he has also been quite successful, having for a number of years 
devoted considerable attention to the raising of fine cattle, sheep and 
hogs, which, as all know, have long been considered a reliable source 
of wealth in Minnehaha county and throughout the state. 
        
        Mr. Sandvig was married, after settling in South Dakota, to 
Miss Ida O. Brown, who, like himself, is a native of Norway, but who 
had been living for some years prior to her marriage in the county of 
Minnehaha. Two daughters have been born to this union, Hilda O. and 
Christina A., both living and, like their parents, highly esteemed in 
the social circles in which they move. Mr. Sandvig's long residence in 
South Dakota, covering a period of over thirty years, has made him 
widely known throughout Minnehaha county, and today there are few as 
popular men in the community and none more active or influential in 
promoting the material welfare of this section of the state. Never an 
office seeker or an aspirant for leadership in any undertaking, he has 
been honored at different times with important official positions, 
including the chairmanship of the Lyons township board, which he held 
for many years, and a place on the local school board, in which 
capacity he was instrumental in building up the educational system 
within his jurisdiction and making the schools among the best in the 
county. Mr. Sandvig possesses in a marked degree the physical 
characteristics and mental qualifications essential to success, being a 
man of wide practical intelligence, good judgment, clear perception and 
invincible integrity. His career throughout presents much that is 
commendable and worthy of emulation and, measured by the highest 
standard of excellence, his life as a neighbor, friend and enterprising 
citizen has been eminently honorable and above reproach.