Peter Lukins, a former Kentuckian and shoemaker who made and repaired a variety of leather goods, built a home and shop in 1831. In 1832 Lukins and George Warburton left New Salem to develop nearby Petersburg, in which they had invested. Peter Lukins won the card game with Warburton to determine the name of Petersburg, but soon sold his interest to John Taylor. Alexander Ferguson moved into Lukins' house and took up leather work in 1832. He was a man of little education and not the most skilled leather worker. Ferguson moved from New Salem in 1840 when he bought a nearby farm from Samuel Hill.