I'm a wealthy but not famous American in the 1870s frontier and I am beaten and robbed of all identifying objects. Luckily I drag myself to a small boom town. I have an estate and liquid assets back east. How long and easily will I be able to have access to my funds? Will I be able to get a room and food until the money arrives?
Banking was well connected by the 1870s; the telegraph would quickly communicate what was needed to gain you access to resources that you would have in a bank. Other assets would not be as easily at your disposal. Although no way of knowing about room and board, I believe it would be fairly easy to gain room and board until your money arrived since it was a more trusting society than today.