The Heber Valley Heritage Foundation Midway Fort Family of the
week is that of Casper Sulser and Katharina Steudler written by
Jason Moulton

Casper Sulser K2HN-1SN. ( Kaspar) Sulzer was born on 17 October 1821, in Meiringen,
Bern, Switzerland, his father, Peter Sulzer, was 30 and his mother, Anna Egger, was 24. He
married Katharina Steudler on 2 April 1841, in Meiringen, Bern, Switzerland. They were
the parents of at 5 sons and 7 daughters. He lived in Cochecton, Sullivan, New York, United
States in 1855. He died on 12 October 1891, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the
age of 69, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States. The Sulser Cabin was
located on the North Side of the Midway Fort sandwiched between the Simon Schneitter
and Peter Galli cabins.

Katharina Steudler KWVG-NGL was born on 29 March 1820, in Meiringen, Bern,
Switzerland, her father, Melchior Steüdler, was 49 and her mother, Margaretha Abplanalp,
was 42. She married Kaspar Sulzer on 2 April 1841, in Meiringen, Bern, Switzerland. They
were the parents of 5 sons and 7 daughters. She lived in Cochecton, Sullivan, New York,
United States for about 5 years. She died on 1 August 1903, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah,
United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch,
Utah, United States.

The following story was found in Family Search, notice the slightly different spelling of the
last name in this article.

“CASPER SULZER by Lillie Jones

From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.

GRANDFATHER’S STORY – CASPER SULZER
Compiled by a granddaughter Mrs. Lillie Jones

My grandfather Casper Sulzer was born in Switzerland 17 October 1821. He married
Katherine Stuedler in 1841. To them were born seven children in the native land, four of
the children died in infancy.

When father, the oldest child, was six years old (1851), the family came to the United
States. They lived in the State of New York for several years. Three children were born in
New York. They were Susan, Emmeline and Amelia,

Grandfather left Switzerland because he was going to be put into the Army and for fear he
would have to spend all the rest of his days in the Army. Grandfather joined the Latter-Day
Saints Church shortly after arriving in New York from Switzerland.

He left grandmother and his family and went with the missionaries, much to the
displeasure of grandmother. She was not reconciled to his living together during these
times. Then one night while she was out in the barn feeding and milking her cows, she felt
impressed to kneel down and pray and ask God if it was the true church, and if she should
join her husband. She said when she arose from her knees she felt like someone had
wrapped a warm cloak around and made her feel all warm and happy inside. She joined the
church.

While grandfather was gone grandmother had to move to another place. One day when the
children were looking out the window they noticed a man walking back and forth on the
street and acted as if he was looking for someone. He looked at the children in the window
and recognized them as his own and came in,

After they were traveling to Utah they got as far as Wyoming and Aunt Elizabeth was born
on the plains. Born 11 Sept. 1861.

In about 1900 grandmother broke her hip. My sister Niccie had scrubbed grandmother’s
porch. As grandmother came out of the house and stepped on the freshly scrubbed porch
she had the misfortune to slip and fall and break her hip.

They got Mary Ann ShiItz to stay with grandmother and take care of her for about one year.
Her children then took turns caring for her. She suffered three years, was never able to
walk. She died 1 August 1903 and was buried in the Midway Cemetery.

When father was ten years old he went to work for a farmer who owned grist (flour) mill.
By the time he was eleven or twelve years old the Civil War broke out and his parents left
him in New York and went west. They arrived in Murray, Utah Father had to do the chores
in the morning for the people he lived with. He also had to start the fire for the schoolhouse
In a rush to come west to Utah with the Joseph W. Young handcart Co. his parents left
without notifying my father. News of the Gold Rush in California reached New York when
father was fifteen years old. He and a friend decided to go west. Five years had passed and
he had received no word from his parents. Father and his friend went as far as Cheyenne,
Wyoming. They got a job working on the railroad. They used horses and mules to build the
grades for the railbeds. After two years of work there, father decided to continue his
journey to Utah. His friend returned to New York.

One day as father was walking down a sidewalk in Salt Lake City, he noticed a man walking
across the street who looked familiar to him. He thought he looked like his father, so he
went down the road and headed him off. He said, “Hello Dad.” The man said, “I’m not your
dad. Father said, “You are my Dad! The man looked again at father and said, is that you
John?” So on the sidewalks of Salt Lake City a reunion took place between grandfather and
father who had been parted for seven long years. Father was now seventeen years old.
In 1862 the family moved to Midway, father herded sheep that winter. After that he went to
live with Sidney Epperson for two years. He worked in the Epperson flour mill.

Grandfather and his sons John (Father) and Casper hewed logs and built a cabin where the
old creamery used to be. John, My oldest brother would help grandfather pick up potatoes
and stored them in the cellar. This was when he was a small boy.
Later grandfather built a new home on the corner of the north lot where his home now
stands.

Grandfather left his wife and family. He went to Montana and roamed the country for
eleven years. This worked a real hardship on his family. Grandmother had to work hard to
provide for her family. Sometimes she would sheer sheep by tying the sheep down on the
table. Father and Casper Jr. worked to help provide for the family.

Grandfather later returned and was united with his family. He was baptized on the mound,
which was Ulrich Abegglen’s property. Toward the end of grandfather’s life he was hit in
the side with the handle of the plow while working on his farm in the Dutch Field. He did
not fully recover from the blow. He died 12 October 1891 at the age of seventy.
When father was eighteen or twenty years old, he stood guard for the Black Hawk War. The
Indians would steal the people’s cattle and horses. There were two settlements: One on
Snake Creek which was called the upper settlement and the other was one and one-half
miles south of Midway called the lower settlement.

The Indians became so wicked that the lower and upper settlements decided to go half way
and make a large corral to hold their animals. This location was called the Public Square.
Each settlement came half way and that was how Midway got its name.

Father and other young men would take turns guarding their cattle at night. In the daytime
they would herd the cattle.

Father was born 28 March 1846 in Bern, Switzerland. Father was a very hard workingman.
He was honest and true in his dealing with his fellow men. He was always ready to help
anyone in need. Father was the first man in Midway to plant trees. Some of them were
planted on Mark Jeff’s place. Some of them are still growing today. Alma Durtchi owns the
place today, 1955.

Father had pneumonia four times. The second time he had it, Eliza and John had it also.
Mother was alone. She knelt down and prayed that the Lord would open a way that
someone would come and help her. This was 2 am. After ten minutes, John Van Wagoner
and Uncle George Bunnell came to see how father and the children were. They
administered to father and the children. Uncle George Bunnell and Aunt Margaret Bunnell
had a boy sick with pneumonia at the same time. They had sent for John Van Wagoner to
come to administer to their son. While Mr. Van Wagoner was there he and Uncle George
Bunnell felt impressed to come to our house. Mother’s prayer was answered.

When Nephi, my brother, was a baby he had the measles. They went in on him, and became
very sick, Father called John Van Wagoner to come to our house. He and father
administered to Nephi and as soon as they took their hands off his head the measles broke
out all over his body.

Father’s name is written on the Memorial Monument, which stands on Jessie’s Mound. A
road has been made around the hill. Many people ride in their cars around the road up to
the monument to read the name of the Black Hawk Veterans and those of the First World
War. The Veterans names of the Second World War may be inscribed on the Monument by
now.

Father died of pneumonia 26 December 1914. He was sick five days. Father was buried in
the Midway Cemetery and laid to rest by his loved ones.

Taken from: HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS, Pg 796 –797″