Walter H. Jorrissen was born in Holland on December 20, 1873. He came to the United States and was a Spanish-American War Veteran. After the war he came to Barnes County and married Elizabeth Thilmony on October 11, 1902. Her parents John and Anna Thilmony homesteaded in the Cuba township area. The homestead is now the Lloyd Thilmony farm home.
Mr. and Mrs. Jorissen farmed in the Cuba and Springvale township area for a time and then moved to Valley City. He worked at the Monarch Elevator in Rogers, North Dakota and the family lived in Valley City. The home was at the east end of town and children would herd the family cows to pasture on the west end, picking up extra animals on the way to pasture. The streetcar operator, Mr. Briggs, would sometimes blow his whistle and cause havoc with the animals. He'd redeem himself by giving the kids a ride to North Valley and back on the streetcar. Mr. Jorissen later managed the Farmers Elevator in Rogers and the family moved into Rogers. Later they purchased the Booth farm north of the community. The family grew up in the Rogers area. Walter died in 1948. Mrs. Jorissen made her home with her son Fred until her death in 1957.
They had eight children;
John, died as a child €“
Judith, passed away in 1953 €“
Theresa, died in 1963 €“
Henry, retired farmer at Sanborn €“
Jake, retired farmer at Dazey €“
Gerrit, Port Angeles, Washington €“
Fred, farms at Leal €“
Esther, (Mrs. Elvin Mennie) Port Angeles, Washington.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 118