The settlers of Pleasant Exchange built a brick schoolhouse in 1822, known as the "college." It was possibly the first brick building in Henderson County. H. J. Bolen, in his Henderson County's History, gives the following account of Pleasant Exchange:

"William D. Carrington established a business at Old Pleasant Exchange about 1824. He built the first hotel or inn, perhaps that was built in the county. He bought his goods or merchandise out of New Orleans and had them shipped to a point on the Tennessee River, since called Brodie's Landing. A little later two men named Philpot and Fairbanks came and bought up a large tract of land and built a mill on Dabbs Creek, since known as Philpot's mill. They also established a distillery that ran full time the entire year. At one time there were three stores, three saloons, one tailor shop, one blacksmith shop and two shoe shops.... Pleasant Exchange up to the Civil War was a noted resort for horse racing and gambling. But after the war it ceased to exist as a town. . . ."

The Leslie family, relatives of Andrew Jackson moved to Pleasant Exchange in the early 1820s. During Jackson's business trips to West Tennessee, he reportedly spent several nights with the Leslies. It was also said that he raced horses at Pleasant Exchange. The remains of the school building and race track are on the land now owned by Claude Roberts.

A powder mill operated in the community before and possibly during the Civil War. Veterans and local residents have said that General Forrest replenished his army with powder from the mill prior to the Battle of Parker's Crossroads.

Excerpt from "Henderson County" by G. Tillman Stewart