Jessie E. Thorkelson was born in Valley City, December 4, 1891. When three weeks old her parents moved to Fingal, North Dakota. At fourteen years of age her parents moved back to Valley City. Later she took a course in typing and shorthand and worked for her father in the insurance office of Thorkelson & Peake. She was a Clerk in the County Auditor's office until she was married in the spring of 1917 to Clayton B. Marvin from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, who worked for T. S. Henry in the abstract business. They moved to Montana and later came back to Valley City where Jessie again worked in the County Auditor's office for Mrs. Clara Bechtle. Jessie and Clayton had one daughter, Barbara, who lives in Fargo, North Dakota, and is married to A. W. McNair, 1 r. They have four children. Clayton Marvin died October 7, 1964.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 249