As discussed under Enos 1:21, the original text had quite a few examples of “much ” (such as “much afflictions” in 1 Nephi 16:35 and “much horses” in Enos 1:21). Here in Ether 8:2, Joseph Smith changed much to many in his editing for the 1837 edition; the critical text will restore the original much.
Summary: Restore in Ether 8:2 the original use of much with the plural people; this kind of usage was fairly common in the original text.