Lauritz Berntson Roal (1874 – 1965)
Louis Roal was born in Norway and came to the Yukon in 1899. He had relatives in Arlington, Washington In the early days he operated a sawmill at Indian River and mined at Quartz Creek. Roal was a rancher in the Indian River district from about 1912 to at least the 1920s.1) In May 1917, Roal was getting 100 acres of land ready to grow hay.2)
Cal Hafstad, who mined on Quartz Creek, was fascinated by Haystack Mountain across the valley. On his death bed he persuaded his best friend L.B. Roal to bury him on the highest peak.3) Hafstad died in Dawson in the heat of the summer and his body was taken to the creeks in a light wagon. Roal arranged relays of horses along the route and the first team travelled to Grand Forks, the second to MacMillan's roadhouse on Quartz Creek, the third to McKinnon's camp, and the fourth to the foot of the mountain. A road was swamped through the last three miles. The body was then carried by men in relays of four. The grave was dug by the Haaland brothers, Hafstad’s partners in his mine.4)
Louis Roal owned one of the first Studebaker cutters and buggies in the Yukon.5) Roal died in Dawson City where he had lived since 1954.6)
The Lauritz Berntson Roal fonds and the Harry Eskrigge and Lauritz Roal collection (fonds) are held at the Yukon Archives.