Gustaf Elm (usually known as "Gust") was born August 31, 1850 in Sweden and came to America as a young man.

Gustaf and his brother, John, came to Barnes County about 1879 or 1880, and Gust filed on a homestead in Skandia Township. John returned to Minnesota.

Gust married Sophia Swenson on November 26, 1882. On their homestead were born seven sons and four daughters. Only two sons and two daughters are living. They are Fred, Alberta, Canada; Theodore (Ted), Hastings, North Dakota; Esther (Mrs. Harold Seielstad) and Hannah (Mrs. Elmer Triebold). Other sons and daughters were: Charles, Albert, Edward, Otto, George, Mrs. Ellen (Claus) Tomren, and Mrs. Selma (Jens) Strand.

An imposing house was built on the Elm farm - partly in a hillside where many happy family gatherings took place.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 60