Wildersville, on the northern side of Henderson County, situated on Big Sandy River, the Nashville Chattanooga and St. Louis railroad, and reached by highways from three directions, is a town of approximately 500 people. This town was founded about one mile north of the present location about 1837. It was known as Pleasant Exchange until after the Civil War, when the community center was moved on the hill, (Old Wildersville Hill), west of the present site. The town was named for Ed. Wilder, a St. Louis pharmacist, who manufactured a well known medicine by the name of "Wilders Bitters." The first store on the hill west of the present site became a distributor of this then famous remedy, and its use was so universal in the community that the people generally thought of the store as "Wilders", a name that was used for a while, until the late Priestly Parker, owner and operator of this first store, decided to call the town, which was destined to become the second in size in the County, "Wildersville". Priestly Parker was a good man and possessed merchandising ability that attracted attention in his day. Although he lived in a day when miles had meaning, he was known far and near. Markets in New Orleans, St. Louis, and many other points found his wares good and relations with him pleasant. Among the best reminders to the present generation of Priestly Parker, however, is that he was the father of Joe P. Parker -- a name dearer to the people of Wildersville than any other. Though the efforts of Joe P. Parker Wildersville enjoyed the reputation for many years in being known as the best market for cotton and other farm products in Henderson County, and in the State when size was considered.

Among other early settlers in Wildersville community were the Bolens, Cozarts, Wilsons, Carringtons, Hodges, Britts, Williams, and many others whose names we do not recall. In 1921, just as Wildersville had begun to show itself to be a real town, with sidewalks, electric lights, good schools, three well-attended churches, and more than 20 flourishing business houses, one of the greatest conflagrations that had ever before been known in the County swept the entire business district, leaving only one small grocery store. Through the energetic efforts of such citizens as M. C. Rosser, Dr. C. E. Bolen, C. W. Scott, and W. R. Wilson, the town was raised from its ashes to become again a good town in one of the richest agricultural sections in the County.

In mentioning Pleasant Exchange in connection with the early history of Wildersville we might add that one of the largest race tracks of pre-Civil War days was here, and trace of the old right of way can still be seen. Here also was the famous fight so much talked of for many years between Reeves Bolen, grandfather of W. R. Bolen, one of Wildersvilles present citizens, and Demps Cain. Tradition says that Cain, a fighter with the reputation that he could not be whipped and was feared by officers and citizens alike, publicly announced on one of the gala days at Old Pleasant Exchange that he would whip any man there and that if he didnt he would leave the country, whereupon Bolen accepted and soon had the champion down, beating him, and had his hair almost pulled out when he begged to be let up. True to his word, Demps Cain left for Texas the next day and was never again the terror of Pleasant Exchange. Also we might mention that the first brick school house in the County was built here about 1837. The first saddlery in the County was also located here. Contention was strong in making Pleasant Exchange the county seat, but being on the edge of the County caused better judgment to locate it at Lexington. Wildersville, like all other towns in the County and State, suffered much brawling and bloodshed during and following the Civil War. The town was incorporated in 1920, and Hon. W. R. Wilson was made its first mayor. Wildersvilles chief industries today are its schools, churches, dairying, cotton raising, and agriculture in general.

Wildersville Items in Lexington Republican January 5, 1906.
Dr. C. P. Kennedy is in Nashville.
S. W. Scott and wife visited in West Point Sunday.
U. H. Scott of Fulton, Ky., visited relatives here Monday.
Mrs. B. G. Maxwell spent the holidays with her parents at this place.
O. H. Priddy and family spent the holidays at Luray visiting relatives.
Mrs. Carrie Wallace of Gibson is visiting relatives here and at Chesterfield.
W. D. Lawes, our efficient R. F. D. carrier on route 1, went to Lexington Monday. Rev. C. H. Bell filled his appointment at the Baptist Church Saturday and Sunday.
Miss Essie Pearson returned to Huntingdon Monday after spending Christmas with home folks.
Joe McCall and family of West Point visited the family of S. J. Walker from Saturday until Monday.
Tommie R. Murphy, who has been very low for the past two weeks, is thought to be some better at this writing.
Dr. L. D. Murphy at Buena Vista visited relatives here this week. Dr. Murphy attended his sick brother, T. R. Murphy.
L. J. Parker and J. T. Rosser are in Mississippi this week making preparations to move their stave factory there in the near future.
Christmas passed off very quietly here, there being no drunkenness as on former occasions. It is to be hoped that our people will do better in the future.
Emmett Parker was painfully hurt Monday afternoon. He was enroute to Huntingdon and someone threw a brick through the window of the coach he was in, the rock striking him just above the left temple, making an ugly wound and filling both eyes full of glass. The railroad physician was on hand when he arrived in Huntingdon and attended his wound.