Hi All, I just spent a few days over the hill in Washoe country, while there I was reminded by a couple of historians and genealogists there that many of the first Euro/American settlers fell off the immigrant wagon trains that passed through and that the missing relation you now disappeared from the Eastern States, but can't find with their relations settling in California may have gotten off. Two places to start for those earliest lost souls are Genoa, in Douglas Co and Dayton, in Lyons Co. Genoa and Dayton, both squabble over being the oldest town in Nevada, were stopping points for wagon trains going over the California Trail south of Lake Tahoe. Both are near the state capital, Carson City which among other information sources has the Nevada State Library and Archives. The researcher at Genoa also reminded me that the early settlers and miners didn't care if they were in California or Nevada, she did a lot of research in Markleeville, Alpine Co, CA in the mountians above Genoa across the stateline, which if you check the map is closer to Nevada's cities than California's. Also a look up to the Oregon Trail. One family I've researched came that way to settle in California has had members of 3 different descendent generations go back to Oregon. The wagon train this family traveled with split into 3 groups, 1 going Oregon Trail, 1 California Trail and the last most famous the Donner Party across the Truckee River. For the researcher that can't find their 49'r after he is documented in California, a look in Washoe Co may find your lost relative. Gold finds in the Washoe country, though not rich led to the silver strike centered in Virginia City which was tremendous at a time when California had calmed down. The Comstock Lode brought tens of thousands from the California Mother Lode. Happy Hunting, Steve