Alexander McLaughlin, another of the "original proprietors," thought at one time looked upon as one of the wealthiest men in the State, through the depreciation of real estate occurring about the year 1820, and having entered so deeply into speculation, failed in business, and his large landed estate was sacrificed under the hammer [auctioned]. Though a man of no mean endowment, and with a fine business education and qualifications, he was never able to retrieve his fallen fortunes, and supported himself, in later life, by teaching a common country school. He died in 1832.

James Johnston, one of the parties to the contract to "lay out a town" and "erect and complete a State house, offices, and penitentiary," failed about the same time, and from the same cause, as Mr. McLaughlin. He returned to Pittsburg, where he had been connected in business with kerr, previous to their venture, where he spend the remainder of his life. He died in 1842, at an advanced age, six years prior to the death of Lyne Starling, who was several years younger than the other members of the company.