[1] Linde was born near Ridgeway in Winneshiek County, Iowa.
He was educated at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he graduated in the spring of 1901.
He studied at the University of Minnesota Law School and graduated in the spring of 1906.
[2] He was a teacher in science and English literature at Park Region Luther College in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
He came to Plaza, North Dakota in July 1906 and engaged in the practice of law.