Born in the Hawkeye State, his birth occurring Lee County on the 17th of September, 1841. Little is known concerning the early history of the family, except that his grandfather was a resident of Kentucky, whence at an early day he removed to Illinois. He spent his boyhood days in a manner common to farmer lads, alternating his time between labor in the fields and the perusal of the common branches of learning. In October, 1861, when twenty years of age, he entered the service of his country as a private of Company F, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, and after being mustered in at Davenport, was, with his regiment, assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and sent at once to the front. He participated in the engagements at Forts Henry and Donelson, and at the battle of Shiloh was captured by the enemy, remaining a prisoner for eight months, during which time he was incarcerated in Montgomery, Mobile and Macon, and finally was sent to the horrible Libby Prison, where he was afterward paroled and exchanged. He then rejoined his regiment, which was stationed at Benton Barracks, and later took part in an expedition to Rolla, Mo., where Mr. Tade served on detached duty for several months as river detective in the Provost Marshal department. While engaged in the discharge of those duties he was commissioned Lieutenant of an independent company known as the Liberia Guards, which was organized by Gen. Buford, and with which company he made an expedition to Helena, Ark. At Little Rock, Ark., the company was merged into the Fifty-seventh United States Colored Regiment, and Mr. Tade was made Quartermaster and served in that capacity until January, 1866, when he was made Captain of the company and ordered to New Mexico; here he remained until December of the same year, when he returned to Leavenworth, Kan., and was honorably discharged, after having been in the service continually for more than five years. Early in the year 1867 Mr. Tade began the improvement of his farm he had purchased some time previous. He was also a leader among the stock-raisers of the county and had made a specialty of Hereford cattle and Shropshire sheep, being among the first to introduce both into the county. In June, 1868, Mr. Tade was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Dewey, the union being celebrated in Lee County, Iowa, where the lady was born. Mr. and Mrs. Tade were members of the Baptist Church, of Harrisburg, in which he held the office of Deacon. He was an active advocate of all laudable enterprises and a liberal contributor to benevolent and charitable institutions. Socially, he was a member and Past Commander of J. L. Jordan Post, G. A. R., of Hillsborough, also belonged to the Farmers Alliance, being President of the Harrisburg Society, and held a membership in the Masonic lodge. The interest which he has taken in politics has contributed not a little to the success of his party, the Republican, in Van Buren County. A firm believer in its principles and one of its staunchest advocates, he labors for its welfare and is an influential member in its State and county conventions. He was honored by an election to the State Legislature, and displaying the same fidelity to duty which has characterized his entire life, he proved himself an efficient and capable officer.