NeElian was the son of Nels N. Graff who was born Vermeland, Sweden on 21 December 1842. Nels immigrated from Sweden to the United States in 1869 and homesteaded a 320 acre farm in Minnehaha County, Brandon Township in 1870 NeElian's mother's name was Elise Axelson, who came to this country with Nels N. Graff and one son.