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Here you'll find information about local historical personalities. In the past we have been fortunate to have local volunteers portray them as living history presentations. Due to individual schedules, they may or may not be available for the Isaac Roop Day celebration.

Peter Lassen

Peter Lassen is Still a Mystery.
 
A portrait of Peter LassenHe was an early pioneer from Denmark. His trade was that of a blacksmith. He left no diary of his amazing life, yet he was known by many of the early folk of California. Most of what we learn of him is hearsay. We do know that he was born on October 31, 1800. He worked for John Sutter as a blacksmith. We know that he was not too tall. He had to arrange for a special waver to enlist in the Danish military as a blacksmith. He traveled northern California and did not really ever settle down. He received a Mexican Land Grant near what is called Vina today, but even that adventure did not receive his full attention.

He developed an emigrant trail. He had a shallow draft steam vessel in which, for a time, he carried cargo up and down the Sacramento River. He sold grindstones for use in gristmills. He brought the Masonic Charter to California from Missouri and helped with the starting of the Lodge in the old town of Shasta. He was involved with the forming of the "Territory of Nataqua" and even served as the president with Isaac Roop serving as the secretary.

We do know that he smoked a meerschaum pipe which is now on display in the Lassen Historical Museum in Susanville. It is reported that the pipe once belonged to his grandfather in Denmark. Another item from his estate, his clock, is on display at the local Masonic Temple in Susanville.
 
A large oak tree.In 1859 Peter Lassen and his friend Ed Clapper were killed by an assassin out in the Black Rock Desert. To this day, their deaths are still an unsolved mystery. A Masonic monument was placed over Peter Lassen's grave that reads that his death was by the Indians. It was the perfect crime since there was no trial, no witness and no proven murderer.

A noted historian has used the word respect as the summary of Peter's life. "He was a man who had more heart than judgment." Peter Lassen has more tributes to him and his name than any of his friends and folks from that pioneer time. There is a National Forest, a National Park, and a County named for this one lone man who is buried in our Honey Lake Valley.

His friends listened to his simple request that at the time of his death he would like to be laid to rest under the giant Ponderosa Pine tree where the view reminded him of his far away home in Denmark. They granted his request and he is at rest in Susanville on Wingfield Road.

Isaac Roop

Susan Roop

Dr. Robert F. Moody

Mark Twain