Private John Griggs was inducted into military service on August 17, 1862 and was discharged August 16, 1865.
1870 United States census records show John Griggs (age 32, sailor) married to Julia (age 30). Children are Carrie (female, age 8), Florence (female, age 4), Axenia (female, age 2), and Louise (female, age 4 months). The family resides in North La Crosse, Wisconsin.
A school district, No. 3, was organized in 1876 with W. C. Nash, John Griggs, and George Inkster as the school board and Miss Carrie Griggs (daughter of John Griggs) as teacher. (The City of East Grand Forks Illustrated, William L. Dudley, Grand Forks, N. D., 1901, Page 10)
1880 United States census records show John Griggs (age 43, born around 1837 in Ohio) still married to Julia (age 40). Children are Carrie (female, age 18), Frances (male, age 14), Louis (male, age 12), Maria (female, age 10), Ellic (male, age 8), Howard (male, age 6), Estilla (female, age 2), and Lillea (female, 10 months). The family resides in Huntsville Township, Polk County, Minnesota.
Capt. John Griggs, one of the oldest settlers of the Red River valley, and a brother of Capt. Alex Griggs, so well known in St. Paul, (his old home), as identified with every prominent enterprise in the valley, died last evening at his home in this place. He was an old steamboat captain and pilot, and the past season has been engaged in exploring the Saskatchewan river, in command of the steamer “Alpha.” His loss causes universal regret. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Monday Morning, January 10, 1881, Volume IV, Number 10, Page 2)
1885 United States census records show Julia A. Griggs (widow of John Griggs) still living in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Children are Florence (age 18), Louis (age 16), Maria (age 15), Alexander (age 13), Robert (age 11), Estella (age 7), and Lilly (age 5).
Mrs. John Griggs died at two o’clock this morning. She leaves three sons and four daughters, two of whom are Mrs. Frank Witt and Mrs. M. S. Danaher. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Wednesday Morning, December 23, 1891, Volume XXI, Number 42, Page 5)
Mrs. Julia B. Griggs Passed Away Yesterday Morning. Yesterday morning at 2 o’clock Mrs. Julia B. Griggs passed across the great divide after patiently awaiting for a long time the summons which was to call her to the great unknown. Consumption was the disease which finally sent her to that bourne from which no traveler returns. The end, which came peacefully and quietly had been expected for several days, the doctors holding out no hopes of recovery. Mrs. Griggs was born in Wisconsin in 1840, and when twenty-one years of age married John Griggs, brother of Capt. Alex. Griggs and came here with her husband in 1872; Mr. Griggs dying in 1881. Mrs. Griggs assisted in organizing the first Sunday school here, and has been a member of the Methodist church since its inception and was a member of the Willis A. Gorman relief corps. Four daughters and three sons are left to mourn her loss. The Rev. A. McGregor will officiate at the obsequies which take place at the Baptist church this afternoon at 2 o’clock. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Thursday Morning, December 24, 1891, Volume XXI, Number 43, Page 5)
Laid to Rest. The funeral of Mrs. John Griggs, of East Grand Forks, took place yesterday afternoon from the Baptist church, Rev. Alex. McGregor, preaching the sermon, which was brief, but eloquent and impressive. The following old settlers and friends of the deceased acted as pall-bearers: W. J. Anderson, Thomas Walsh, Wm. Budge, D. M. Holmes, Jas. Jenks and Mayor Brown. The afternoon was stormy and unpleasant, but nevertheless a large concourse of people were present and followed the remains to the cemetery. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Friday Morning, December 25, 1891, Volume XXI, Number 44, Page 5)
It was not until 1881, however, that the town (of East Grand Forks) became a verity. During that year Mrs. John Griggs, who owned the land opposite the business portion of Grand Forks, North Dakota, platted and laid out in lots, forty acres, with avenues corresponding to those on the opposite side of the river. The land was platted as “Grand Forks East.” (The City of East Grand Forks Illustrated, William L. Dudley, Grand Forks, N. D., 1901, Page 10)