On a crisp spring day in 1829, in the tiny village of Brienzwiler nestled beneath the towering Alps of Bern Canton, Switzerland, a boy named Peter Abplanalp entered the world. Few could have imagined that this child, born beside a beautiful mountain lake and surrounded by rugged peaks, would one day help build a frontier community half a world away in the mountains of Utah. His life would become a remarkable story of courage, faith, hard work, and adventure.
The name “Abplanalp” itself tells a story. High above the village of Brienz were mountain meadows known as “planalps.” Families who lived and worked on these elevated plains became known as the people “from the planalps.” Peter’s ancestors carried that identity with pride, and the mountains would remain a defining feature of Peter’s life wherever he went.
Peter was the third of ten children born to Johannes Abplanalp and Catharina Schild. Like many Swiss families of the time, the Abplanalps were industrious and skilled. As a young boy, Peter watched his older brothers and sisters practice the trades that helped support the family. He became fascinated by shoemaking and woodcarving, crafts that required patience, precision, and creativity. Those skills would serve him well throughout his life.
Growing up in Brienzwiler, Peter likely spent his days surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Snow-capped peaks reflected in the waters of Lake Brienz, cowbells echoed across green mountain pastures, and the rhythms of village life moved steadily with the seasons. Yet beyond the beauty of Switzerland, Peter dreamed of building a future with the girl who had been his friend since childhood.
That girl was Margaretha Eggler.
Margaretha was born in Brienzwiler in 1835, the first daughter in a hardworking family. She and Peter grew up together, attending school and sharing the experiences of village life. Their friendship gradually blossomed into love, and on November 30, 1855, Peter, age twenty-seven, married Margaretha, age twenty-one. They were mature, capable, and ready to begin a life together.
Two years later, their first child, Peter Jr., was born. Around this same time, the young couple discovered the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their new faith would change the course of their lives forever. Like many converts in Europe, they dreamed of gathering with fellow church members in America. The decision meant leaving behind family, familiar mountains, and the only home they had ever known. It was a tremendous sacrifice, but Peter and Margaretha were willing to take the risk.
The family crossed the Atlantic Ocean and settled temporarily in Sullivan County, New York. There they officially joined the Church through baptism in 1859 and welcomed two more children into their growing family. Yet New York was only a stopping point. Their hearts were set on Utah.
In 1861, Peter and Margaretha joined a wagon company headed west. Along with approximately 140 fellow travelers, they crossed the vast American plains. Peter drove oxen for the entire journey. Day after day, the company pushed westward through heat, dust, storms, and uncertainty. After more than two months of travel, they finally arrived in Salt Lake City in September 1861.
For three years, the family lived in Big Cottonwood. Peter had always loved mountains, and before long he was drawn further up to see what was on the other side of the mountain. He found himself in a beautiful valley east of the Wasatch Range known then as Provo Valley. The landscape reminded him of Switzerland. Towering mountains surrounded green meadows and clear streams. It felt like home.
When Peter arrived, there were two small settlements in the valley: Lower Creek and Mound City. The pioneers worked together closely, sharing labor and building a strong sense of community. However, growing tensions and conflicts during the Black Hawk War created concerns about safety. Church leaders encouraged settlers to gather into a fortified community for protection. As a result, families from both settlements constructed a fort midway between the two locations. Naturally, the new settlement became known as Midway.
Peter and Margaretha moved into one of the seventy-five dirt-roofed cabins inside Fort Midway. Their cabin stood in the middle of the north side of the fort. Life there was not easy. Families lived in cramped quarters, always aware of the dangers surrounding them. Yet they worked together, watched over one another, and built a community that would endure long after the threat had passed.
Peter did more than simply live inside the fort—he helped defend it. During the Black Hawk War, he served as a Second Lieutenant in the Ira Jacobs Infantry. For two years, he stood ready to protect his family and neighbors. Like many pioneers, Peter balanced military duty with farming, construction, and community service.
As conditions improved, families gradually moved out of the fort and built permanent homes. Peter’s home reflected the resourcefulness of Midway’s early settlers. Local materials were used to create brick, lumber from nearby sawmills, and limestone from the hot springs, which were used to create a sturdy family residence complete with bedrooms, a kitchen, and a vegetable cellar.
Life in Midway was not all work and hardship. Peter and his family brought Swiss traditions with them, including a love of music. The Abplanalps became known for their musical talents. Peter played in the first Swiss band in Midway, the Andreas Burgener Band. The musicians traveled to parades and celebrations on a large wagon pulled by impressive horses, bringing joy and entertainment to the growing community.
Meanwhile, Peter and Margaretha’s family continued to grow. They ultimately raised ten children, and remarkably, all lived to adulthood. Their descendants would spread across Utah and beyond, carrying forward the values of hard work, faith, and perseverance that Peter and Margaretha exemplified.
In 1885, after more than two decades in Midway, Peter answered another call to pioneer new territory. The family moved east to Ashley Valley in present-day Uintah County. Trading their Midway farm for an eighty-acre homestead, they once again started over. Peter Jr. remained behind in Midway, and the parting was emotional. As the wagons rolled away, a chapter of Midway history closed for the Abplanalp family.
Peter’s leadership continued in his new home. In 1887, he was ordained bishop of the newly organized Glines Ward. For twelve years, he served faithfully, helping guide the growing community until declining health forced his release.
When Peter passed away in 1900 at the age of seventy-one, he left behind far more than farms, homes, and community buildings. He left a legacy of determination. From the mountain villages of Switzerland to the pioneer settlements of Utah, Peter Abplanalp demonstrated what could be accomplished through faith, courage, and a willingness to build something greater than oneself.
Today, when visitors stroll through Midway and admire its Swiss heritage, they are seeing part of Peter’s legacy. The mountains that first shaped him in Switzerland eventually led him to another mountain valley where he helped create a community that still thrives today. His story is, in many ways, the story of Midway itself—a journey from distant Alpine roots to a new home, built on the American dream.
Learn more at Heber Valley Heritage Foundation: hebervalleyheritage.com
