PETER ABPLANALP, Sr., was born on the 2^nd day of March 1829, in the town of Brienzwiler, Bern Canton, Switzerland. This village was located on the shore of a beautiful lake, located against the rugged Brienz mountains. Although these mountains are rugged, they are dotted with small plains high above the mountain walls, which are known as “planalps.” Thus, the family name, because they lived on those high plains and people were referred to as planalps when they came down to the village of Brienz.

Peter’s Catholic baptism record, dated March 8, 1829, lists his father as Johannes Abplanalp and his mother as Catharina (Katrine) Schild or Schilt. Peter was the third of ten children born to very industrious parents. Little is known of his childhood, except that while watching his older siblings, who were skilled in the arts of shoemaking and woodcarving, he became very interested in these crafts and eventually pursued them as a profession.

At the age of 27, Peter married his childhood sweetheart, Margaretha Eggler, with whom he had been friends since they were school-age. They were married on the 30^th of November 1855 in Brienzwiler, Bern, Switzerland. Margaretha was born on February 15, 1835, also in Brienzwiler, Bern, Switzerland. She was the fifth child and first daughter of Johannes Eggler and Margareth Schild (Eggler). Peter and Margaretha were both prepared and of a mature age for marriage, Margaretha having been 21 years old at the time of their wedding.

Two years later, their first son, Peter Jr., was born in 1857 in Brienzwiler, Switzerland. At about the same time, they adopted the gospel teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and decided to emigrate to America. They set sail across the Atlantic Ocean and landed in New York, where they found a place to live near some relatives in Pikes Pond or Jeffersonville, Sullivan Co., New York. They would remain there for a period of four years. It was here that they were baptized members of the Church on the 23^rd of November 1859 by Albricht Bishop, who also confirmed them members. While living in Sullivan County, Peter and Margaretha had their next two children, both girls; Margaretha was born in 1859, and Elizabeth was born in 1860, at Pikes Pond.

Peter and Margaretha had a great desire to travel to Utah, where they could live with other members of the Church. They finally joined a company of 140 travelers, called the Joseph W. Young/Ansil P. Harmon/Heber P. Kimball Company, and drove oxen the entire distance across the vast plains. They departed New York on the 11^th of July 1861, and arrived in Salt Lake City, a little over two months later, on the 23^rd of September.

After arriving in Utah, they settled in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, where they remained for the first three years. They then decided they wanted to move “to the mountains.” What they found when they arrived in the then-called Provo Valley were two settlements: Lower Creek and Mound City, about three miles from each other. The 50 families, amongst which was found the Abplanalp Family, had settled between these two places and cultivated a strong spirit of unity. Together, they constructed a meeting house in the upper settlement, which they completed in time to celebrate the 24^th of July.

When Indian trouble became a problem in 1866, the settlers received direction from President Brigham Young to build a fort for the mutual protection of both settlements. Through compromise, they established a settlement which was halfway between the two locations and called it ‘Midway.’ The large square fort, which, of course, was called Fort Midway, was built with 75 primitive, dirt-roofed cabins serving as their homes. Peter and Margaretha’s cabin was located in the middle of the north section. All of the settlers remained in the fort for several years until the Indians became more friendly, after which time they began moving out to build attractive, permanent homes.

Because of the Black Hawk War between the whites and the Black Hawk Indians that began in 1866, an infantry and cavalry were organized in the valley to help protect against the hostile Indians. Even with these precautions, the settlers still encountered various skirmishes and troubles. Peter served as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Ira Jacobs infantry for the duration of the Blackhawk War, which concluded in 1868.

Peter and Margaretha’s first home, like most of the early ones in Midway, was constructed from local materials. It included locally kiln-fired brick for two rooms and an upstairs area with two bedrooms, as well as a lean-to and an adjoining kitchen. Most lumber came from the local mountain areas and was milled in one of several lumber mills. They also obtained limestone rock from the Midway Hot Springs in order to build a vegetable cellar.

It would seem that the Swiss people have a natural talent for music, as evidenced by the Abplanalp Family. They were all good singers, and many could play instruments. Peter was a member of the first Swiss Band of Midway, known as the Swiss Andreas Burgener Band of Midway, which played at many parades and gatherings. They moved around on a large wagon drawn by a team of fancy horses.

During the years they lived in Midway, Peter and Margaretha had seven additional children, bringing their total to ten, all of whom lived to adulthood. The last seven were born in Mound City or Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory. They are listed as follows:

1. Peter Abplanalp, (KWC8-ZYK), son, was born 31 May 1857 in Brienzwiler, Bern, Switzerland, when his mother was twenty-two, and his father was twenty-eight. He married on 1 December 1881 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, to Mary Jane Alder – seven children. He died on 7 January 1934 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah, at the age of 76 years, 7 months, and 7 days. He was buried in the Midway City Cemetery two days later, on the 9^th of January.

2. Margaretha Abplanalp (KWCV-ZKJ), daughter, was born 4 April 1859 in Pike Pond, Sullivan , New York, when her mother was twenty-four, and her father was thirty. She married on 28 October 1880 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, to Edward Watkins – ten children. She died on 26 March 1939 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, at the age of 79 years, 11 months, and 22 days. She was buried in the Vernal Memorial Park Cemetery, Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, three days later, on the 29^th of March.

3. Elizabeth Abplanalp (KWCV-CPF), daughter, was born 22 August 1861 in Sullivan County, New York, when her mother was twenty-six and her father was thirty-two. She married on 7 October 1880 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, to Jedediah Wardle – eleven children. She died on 29 September 1925 in Price, Carbon Co., Utah, at the age of 64 years, 1 month, and 7 days. She was buried in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, three days later, on the 2^nd of October.

4. George Abplanalp (KWCN-24D), son, was born 22 November 1862 in Mound City, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, when his mother was twenty-seven and his father was thirty-three. He married on 11 January 1889 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, to Amanda Miriah Wardle – nine children (all girls). He died on 21 March 1960 in Roosevelt, Duchesne Co., Utah, at the age of 97 years, 3 months, and 28 days. He was buried in Roosevelt, Utah, four days later, on the 25^th of March.

5. John Abplanalp, (KWCW-JPH) son, was born 23 October 1864 in Midway, Wasatch , Utah Territory, when his mother was twenty-nine and his father was thirty-five. He married 19 December 1888 in Uintah County, Utah Territory, to Eva Maybell Wall – eleven children. He died on 27 November 1924 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, at the age of 60 years, 1 month, and 4 days. He was buried in Vernal, Utah, five days later, on the 2^nd of December.

6. Joseph Sidney Abplanalp (KWCX-TM2), son, was born 5 February 1867 in Midway, Wasatch , Utah Territory, when his mother was thirty-two and his father was thirty-eight. He married on 20 January 1890 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah Territory, to Hannah Marks Jenkins – fifteen children! He died on 15 December 1962 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at the age of 95 years, 10 months, and 10 days. He was buried in Whittier, Los Angeles Co., California, four days later, on the 19^th of December.

7. Emma Luella Abplanalp (KWCW-WZ9), daughter, was born on 3 March 1870 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, when her mother was thirty-five and her father was forty-one. She married on 5 September 1889 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah Territory, to William James Workman – nine She died on 7 January 1942 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, at the age of 71 years, 10 months, and 4 days. She was buried in Vernal Memorial Park, Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, three days later on the 10^th of January.

8. Franklin Charles Abplanalp (KWCW-JPN), son, was born on 13 October 1872 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, when his mother was thirty-seven and his father was forty-three. He married on 27 June 1894 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah Territory, to Mary Ann Howard – ten children. He died on 3 June 1954 in Provo, Utah Co., Utah, at the age of 81 years, 7 months, and 21 days. He was buried in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, four days later, on the 7^th of June.

9. Henry Abplanalp (KWZB-HRK), son, was born on 5 September 1874 in Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah Territory, when his mother was thirty-nine and his father was forty-five. He married on 8 October 1902 in Uintah County, Utah, to Margaret Lillian Ross – nine children. He died on 21 January 1953 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at the age of 78 years, 4 months, and 16 days. He was buried in Maeser, Uintah Co., Utah, five days later on the 26^th of January.

10. William Abplanalp (KWCK-VLH), son, was born on 21 March 1878 when his mother was forty-three and his father was forty-nine. He married on 4 September 1899 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, to Barbara Elizabeth Jenkins – ten children. He died on 21 March 1961 in Roosevelt, Duchesne Co., Utah, at the age of 83 years exactly. He was buried in the Utahn Cemetery, Utahn, Duchesne Co., Utah, four days later on the 25^th of March.

In 1885, Peter and Margaret once again answered the call from Church leaders to move eastward, this time to Uintah County, Utah Territory, to help establish new communities. The family would settle in Ashley Valley. They were able to trade their farm in Midway for an 80-acre homestead in this new location and were able to sell their Midway home to Peter, Jr. for $200.00, plus a yoke of oxen. Peter Jr. related the following comments about the family leaving him to go east: “There wasn’t much ceremony at parting; a handshake, the mother’s kiss, and then the awkward silence when men choke up a bit as they drive slowly into the distance and to a new land.” Peter Jr. stood with a few friends, watching his parents coach the oxen, and with small hands waving, two covered wagons slowly rolled away. Peter Jr. soon after married and remained in Midway. He didn’t have the occasion to see his family after that.

The area that the Abplanalp Family settled in was in the southwestern part of Ashley Valley, and when they arrived, they found nothing but a sagebrush flat. They worked to plant orchards, grains, flowers, etc., with a true pioneer spirit. Water was brought to the land, along with some cattle and a couple of cows. Their farm spanned a large area of approximately three square miles, or 1,920 acres. At times, Peter also worked in the coal mines to help supplement the family’s living costs.

Two years after moving to Ashley Valley, on 9 May 1887, Peter was ordained as Bishop in the newly organized Uintah Stake. He would lead the Glines Ward. He had been ordained to the office of High Priest ten years earlier on 10 March 1877 by Thomas Todd. He served faithfully as a Bishop for twelve years until 1899, when he was released due to his failing health.

Peter Abplanalp passed away on the 28^th of May 1900 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, at the age of 71 years, 2 months, and 26 days. He was buried in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery in Vernal, Utah, three days later, on the 31^st of May.

Margaret (Eggler) Abplanalp passed away two years later on the 25^th of May 1902 in Vernal, Uintah Co., Utah, at the age of 67 years, 3 months, and 10 days. She was buried next to her husband, Peter, in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery in Vernal, Utah, three days later, on the 28^th of May.

A handwritten note (below) by Peter states the following genealogy information (spelling is as written):

Peter Abplanalp

Bishop of Glines Ward, Uinta Stake Utah from 1887 to 1899. Was borned March 2, 1829 in Brinzyler, Switcherland, a son of Johannes Abplanalp and

Katrine Schilt. he emigranted to amarica in 1858. Was baptized Nov. 23 1859 in New York state. Came to Utah in 1861 and was ordained

a bishop May 9 1887 by John Henry Smith.