The contents of the time capsule were laid out for inspection after it was opened at Old Settlers. They will be laid out at the Historic Platte Valley Bank for two weeks after Old Settlers.

Descendants honored, time capsule opened at Old Settlers

by Nathan Arneal
Published 6/6/06

Old Settlers weekend once again proved to be a successful event, bringing together the community for the annual celebration from June 26 to June 28.

One of the highlights was Saturday’s “Happy Birthday USA” party celebrating America’s 250th birthday. There was also anticipation behind the unveiling of the time capsule in front of the North Bend City Pool that would reveal decades of materials from the past. During the program, North Bend received visitors with direct ties to North Bend’s original family.

Following birthday cake and ice cream and a retelling of the origins of Old Settlers, Old Settlers Planning Committee chairman Nathan Arneal shared background information about Robert Millar and his five siblings and their families. On July 4, 1856, they became the first settlers to plant themselves in what would eventually become North Bend. Robert’s sister Ann and her husband George Young’s son Seth was born four month after the party’s arrival, the first white male to be born in Dodge County.

On Saturday, George Young’s great-great granddaughter (and Seth’s great granddaughter), Judi (Young) Gander, was introduced and welcomed by the crowd. Presently living in Happy Valley, Oregon, she was making her second visit to North Bend. Four years ago, not fully familiar with her family’s history at the time, she and her sisters stopped by the cemetery where her ancestors were buried.

“It’s just fascinating when you look back at the history and knowing that my great-great grandfather was one of the founding fathers of this town,” Gander said.

Preston and Cindy Miller of Beatrice, along with their daughter Angie, were also present. They represented William Millar, Preston’s great-great grandfather and Angie’s great-great-great grandfather, who was a member of that first Millar-Young party. The family changed the spelling of its name from Millar to Miller around World War I. Angie suspects it was to sound less German.

Preston said Angie had done most of the research into the family’s history, which inspired him to begin writing a book about it.

“It’s going to be a book about the Millars and will also include some about the Youngs,” he said, “but I’m still working on it. I haven’t finished it.”

For Angie, mapping out the family tree was something she enjoyed doing. Born in Beatrice but grew up in south Texas, she did a family tree project for school that introduced her to looking up census records and other genealogical resources.

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