Genealogy Research

Many Western Places publications include an index, not just to names in the publication, but listing all people found in newspaper accounts that were living in the location, the earliest date they can be placed there, and a brief statement of context, which might include their occupations, or whatever it was that made them newsworthy. 

For example, the index for Lundy includes 950 names, and that for Belmont has over 1300, and Coloma has 1850.  Since many of these camps flourished between censuses, this is an opportunity for genealogists to tap a new source.