When this valley was settled in 1859, two colonies were established on the west side of Provo River, a lower and an upper settlement, the latter called Mound City. In 1866 Indian depredations caused the formation of the Wasatch County Military District and brought the people of these two settlements together for security. About 75 families erected homes on this site, Sidney H. Epperson was the Presiding Elder, and because the location was midway between the two original sites, common usage gave it the name Midway.