Capt. Alexander Griggs was a very important figure in the steamboat history of Dakota Territory and the Columbia River. He is also considered to be the founder of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
His parents were William Griggs and his first wife, Harriet Gibson.
He was married to Ettie Ione Strong.
He was the father-in-law of John Agar Scaman, of my Scaman family.
Obit: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Jan. 30, 1903, p-8
"WAS A PIONEER OF THE NORTHWEST
Career of the late Capt. Alex Griggs, of Wenatchee, in Opening Up New Countries
GRAND FORKS, N. D., Jan. 29 - Capt. Alex Griggs, who died on Sunday at his home, at Wenatchee, Wash., was one of the best known men in the Northwest, and had been a pioneer ever since his childhood. After spending his childhood in Wisconsin and Minnesota, he took up the work of steamboating on the Minnesota river, between St. Paul and St. Peter, and was thrown into company with James J. Hill, who was at that time engaged as a clerk for one of the transportation companies doing business out of St. Paul. In 1870 he came to the Red river valley, and during that summer he ren flat boats on the Red river for the Hudson bay trade. In the fall of 1871 he went back to St. Paul, and suceeded in interesting James J. Hill in the project of applying steam to the navigation of the Red river. In the course of a few years there were about a dozen boats running on the stream, all the property of Hill, Griggs & Co.
On the last trip of the Selkirk down the river, during her first year, the river froze while the boat was at the junction of the Red and Red Lake rivers. It was neccessary to halt, and here the party stayed until spring. Griggs was favorably impressed with the appearance of the country, and took up a claim here. His was the first log cabin ever built here. He was mayor of the city for two terms. He also interested himself in state politics, and was a member of the constitutional convention.
Late in 1889 Capt. Griggs left for the West, and it was not many years before news came that he was engaged in navigating the waters of the Columbia river as he had navigated those of the Minnesota and the Red years before. He built up a fine business there, and at the time of his death had a number of steamers running on the waters of the Western river. He was a man of genial disposition, and his house was always open to all who chose to make use of it. His name is a household word all over the Northwest."
Obit: Big Bend Empire, Jan. 22, 1903
"Death of Capt. Alex Griggs
The sad intelligence of the sudden death of Capt. Alex. Griggs at his home in Wenatchee was received last Monday. Death was caused from a paralytic stroke.
Mr. Griggs has been engaged in the navigation of river boats on the Columbia since the spring of 1892, and was well and favorably known.
The business men of Waterville with whom he has done business with secured a beautiful wreath, consisting of a large anchor covered with white lillies and other flowers and sent it to Wenatchee in appreciation of their esteem for the late captain.
What effect the death of the captain will have on navigation on the Columbia is not known for at present, but his sons will no doubt continue to look after the business.
Many friends join the Empire in sympathizing with the bereaved relatives." (Thanks to Leslie Larsen)
His parents were William Griggs and his first wife, Harriet Gibson.
He was married to Ettie Ione Strong.
He was the father-in-law of John Agar Scaman, of my Scaman family.
Obit: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Jan. 30, 1903, p-8
"WAS A PIONEER OF THE NORTHWEST
Career of the late Capt. Alex Griggs, of Wenatchee, in Opening Up New Countries
GRAND FORKS, N. D., Jan. 29 - Capt. Alex Griggs, who died on Sunday at his home, at Wenatchee, Wash., was one of the best known men in the Northwest, and had been a pioneer ever since his childhood. After spending his childhood in Wisconsin and Minnesota, he took up the work of steamboating on the Minnesota river, between St. Paul and St. Peter, and was thrown into company with James J. Hill, who was at that time engaged as a clerk for one of the transportation companies doing business out of St. Paul. In 1870 he came to the Red river valley, and during that summer he ren flat boats on the Red river for the Hudson bay trade. In the fall of 1871 he went back to St. Paul, and suceeded in interesting James J. Hill in the project of applying steam to the navigation of the Red river. In the course of a few years there were about a dozen boats running on the stream, all the property of Hill, Griggs & Co.
On the last trip of the Selkirk down the river, during her first year, the river froze while the boat was at the junction of the Red and Red Lake rivers. It was neccessary to halt, and here the party stayed until spring. Griggs was favorably impressed with the appearance of the country, and took up a claim here. His was the first log cabin ever built here. He was mayor of the city for two terms. He also interested himself in state politics, and was a member of the constitutional convention.
Late in 1889 Capt. Griggs left for the West, and it was not many years before news came that he was engaged in navigating the waters of the Columbia river as he had navigated those of the Minnesota and the Red years before. He built up a fine business there, and at the time of his death had a number of steamers running on the waters of the Western river. He was a man of genial disposition, and his house was always open to all who chose to make use of it. His name is a household word all over the Northwest."
Obit: Big Bend Empire, Jan. 22, 1903
"Death of Capt. Alex Griggs
The sad intelligence of the sudden death of Capt. Alex. Griggs at his home in Wenatchee was received last Monday. Death was caused from a paralytic stroke.
Mr. Griggs has been engaged in the navigation of river boats on the Columbia since the spring of 1892, and was well and favorably known.
The business men of Waterville with whom he has done business with secured a beautiful wreath, consisting of a large anchor covered with white lillies and other flowers and sent it to Wenatchee in appreciation of their esteem for the late captain.
What effect the death of the captain will have on navigation on the Columbia is not known for at present, but his sons will no doubt continue to look after the business.
Many friends join the Empire in sympathizing with the bereaved relatives." (Thanks to Leslie Larsen)
Capt. Alexander Griggs was a very important figure in the steamboat history of Dakota Territory and the Columbia River. He is also considered to be the founder of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
His parents were William Griggs and his first wife, Harriet Gibson.
He was married to Ettie Ione Strong.
He was the father-in-law of John Agar Scaman, of my Scaman family.
Obit: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Jan. 30, 1903, p-8
"WAS A PIONEER OF THE NORTHWEST
Career of the late Capt. Alex Griggs, of Wenatchee, in Opening Up New Countries
GRAND FORKS, N. D., Jan. 29 - Capt. Alex Griggs, who died on Sunday at his home, at Wenatchee, Wash., was one of the best known men in the Northwest, and had been a pioneer ever since his childhood. After spending his childhood in Wisconsin and Minnesota, he took up the work of steamboating on the Minnesota river, between St. Paul and St. Peter, and was thrown into company with James J. Hill, who was at that time engaged as a clerk for one of the transportation companies doing business out of St. Paul. In 1870 he came to the Red river valley, and during that summer he ren flat boats on the Red river for the Hudson bay trade. In the fall of 1871 he went back to St. Paul, and suceeded in interesting James J. Hill in the project of applying steam to the navigation of the Red river. In the course of a few years there were about a dozen boats running on the stream, all the property of Hill, Griggs & Co.
On the last trip of the Selkirk down the river, during her first year, the river froze while the boat was at the junction of the Red and Red Lake rivers. It was neccessary to halt, and here the party stayed until spring. Griggs was favorably impressed with the appearance of the country, and took up a claim here. His was the first log cabin ever built here. He was mayor of the city for two terms. He also interested himself in state politics, and was a member of the constitutional convention.
Late in 1889 Capt. Griggs left for the West, and it was not many years before news came that he was engaged in navigating the waters of the Columbia river as he had navigated those of the Minnesota and the Red years before. He built up a fine business there, and at the time of his death had a number of steamers running on the waters of the Western river. He was a man of genial disposition, and his house was always open to all who chose to make use of it. His name is a household word all over the Northwest."
Obit: Big Bend Empire, Jan. 22, 1903
"Death of Capt. Alex Griggs
The sad intelligence of the sudden death of Capt. Alex. Griggs at his home in Wenatchee was received last Monday. Death was caused from a paralytic stroke.
Mr. Griggs has been engaged in the navigation of river boats on the Columbia since the spring of 1892, and was well and favorably known.
The business men of Waterville with whom he has done business with secured a beautiful wreath, consisting of a large anchor covered with white lillies and other flowers and sent it to Wenatchee in appreciation of their esteem for the late captain.
What effect the death of the captain will have on navigation on the Columbia is not known for at present, but his sons will no doubt continue to look after the business.
Many friends join the Empire in sympathizing with the bereaved relatives." (Thanks to Leslie Larsen)
His parents were William Griggs and his first wife, Harriet Gibson.
He was married to Ettie Ione Strong.
He was the father-in-law of John Agar Scaman, of my Scaman family.
Obit: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Jan. 30, 1903, p-8
"WAS A PIONEER OF THE NORTHWEST
Career of the late Capt. Alex Griggs, of Wenatchee, in Opening Up New Countries
GRAND FORKS, N. D., Jan. 29 - Capt. Alex Griggs, who died on Sunday at his home, at Wenatchee, Wash., was one of the best known men in the Northwest, and had been a pioneer ever since his childhood. After spending his childhood in Wisconsin and Minnesota, he took up the work of steamboating on the Minnesota river, between St. Paul and St. Peter, and was thrown into company with James J. Hill, who was at that time engaged as a clerk for one of the transportation companies doing business out of St. Paul. In 1870 he came to the Red river valley, and during that summer he ren flat boats on the Red river for the Hudson bay trade. In the fall of 1871 he went back to St. Paul, and suceeded in interesting James J. Hill in the project of applying steam to the navigation of the Red river. In the course of a few years there were about a dozen boats running on the stream, all the property of Hill, Griggs & Co.
On the last trip of the Selkirk down the river, during her first year, the river froze while the boat was at the junction of the Red and Red Lake rivers. It was neccessary to halt, and here the party stayed until spring. Griggs was favorably impressed with the appearance of the country, and took up a claim here. His was the first log cabin ever built here. He was mayor of the city for two terms. He also interested himself in state politics, and was a member of the constitutional convention.
Late in 1889 Capt. Griggs left for the West, and it was not many years before news came that he was engaged in navigating the waters of the Columbia river as he had navigated those of the Minnesota and the Red years before. He built up a fine business there, and at the time of his death had a number of steamers running on the waters of the Western river. He was a man of genial disposition, and his house was always open to all who chose to make use of it. His name is a household word all over the Northwest."
Obit: Big Bend Empire, Jan. 22, 1903
"Death of Capt. Alex Griggs
The sad intelligence of the sudden death of Capt. Alex. Griggs at his home in Wenatchee was received last Monday. Death was caused from a paralytic stroke.
Mr. Griggs has been engaged in the navigation of river boats on the Columbia since the spring of 1892, and was well and favorably known.
The business men of Waterville with whom he has done business with secured a beautiful wreath, consisting of a large anchor covered with white lillies and other flowers and sent it to Wenatchee in appreciation of their esteem for the late captain.
What effect the death of the captain will have on navigation on the Columbia is not known for at present, but his sons will no doubt continue to look after the business.
Many friends join the Empire in sympathizing with the bereaved relatives." (Thanks to Leslie Larsen)
