Marilyn Hagerty: Remembering the 'Father of Grand Forks' In his obituary in 1903, the newspaper at Larimore eulogized Alexander Griggs as “the Father of Grand Forks.” Written By: Marilyn Hagerty | × Dear Dave McFarlane, I don’t know what you are celebrating down there in Florida. Maybe it’s farewell to winter residents. This could be Alexander Griggs Week in Grand Forks. You see, way back in April of 1875, Griggs placed a plat of Grand Forks with the register of deeds. I mean – all nine acres. Also in April 1875, Griggs was appointed a commission to complete organization of Grand Forks County. When Dan Rylance wrote a history about him for the Herald long ago, he said of all the early “boomers” Griggs was the most deserving of the title – “Father of Grand Forks.”