Your opinion on why New Salem died

[LincolnMan]

Troy: it's hard to believe that every newcomer to New Salem was challenged by town bullies. Would that include men with families? Ministers? Teachers? Lowly farmers? You make quite a statement by saying the village was"murdered." I think young Abraham Lincoln was challenged because he was young lanky and alone. It could have been bad timing for Lincoln to be in that situation. Does it say anywhere in the literature that New Salem died because of bullies?