In the extreme western corner of present Chester County is located the village of Deanburg, or Pultite as it was originally known. This village was formerly in Hardeman County and settled sometime in the 1830's or 1840's by a grant to a Mr. Dean. The Dean home was a large log house which served as a way-lay station on the Old Stage Road from Denmark to Purdy. This home was destroyed March 11,1923 by a cyclone that totally destroyed the community leaving only two homes. No one in the village proper was killed but about one mile north, Brody Cain, son of Claud and Nancy Cain, was killed. The Dean property was bought and some inherited by a Mr. Butler, later sold to Willoughby Stewart on December 29, 1919, then bought by W.L. (Bob) Stewart on December 29, 1936, and still owned by Mrs. Bob Stewart and daughter, Juanita Lawson. Just to the east, a man by the name of Adkin Henery, a Baptist preacher, secured a grant to a large area for three deer skins. On the opposite side of the village on land now owned by Joe Frank Cain, lived a family by the name of Hunter and on this property is one grave with the marker reading "Mary Jane Hunter" died in 1848. The Hunter family moved on the present Wilson School House community and the property was purchased by a Mr. Johnson, and it is on this property that the "Johnson Cemetery" is located. Chickasaw State Park, located about two miles east of Deanburg, figures in its history. This park, or Lake Placid and park headquarters, is located on the former site of a water mill used to grind corn, and at one time, gin cotton. The mill was owned by a man named Pair, perhaps a descendant of the Dean family, as the last known relative of the Deans was Mr. Aussie Dean Pair, who lived just out of Henderson until his death a few years ago. The mill was operated by Mr. Washington Bell. Later the mill was purchased by Flavaa Owens, whose son, Nubern, according to the legend, invented and built the only mill whistle ever known to utilize water power to create sound. Mr. Owens and son, Nubern, both died of typhoid fever about 1915. Sometime around 1935 the land was purchased by the government, opened to the public as a recreational area in 1937 and still plays an important part in the recreational facilities of Chester County. A brief history of Deanburg would not be complete without mentioning the two churches that have played such an important part in the spiritual life of the community, those being Bethel Church organized in the late 1840's and Pleasant Springs organized in 1879. The first store located in Deanburg was owned by a Mr. Jordan, later one owned and operated by Mr. Sipes. Mr. Lige Owens operated a grist mill, sawmill and cotton gin in the early 1900's. W.L. Stewart bought the Owens mill June 10, 1925 and operated the gristmill, sawmill, and general merchandise store for a number of years. The first school building was a two story frame building with the Woodmen of The World occupying the second story. This building was destroyed by the cyclone of 1923. This building was located on one-half acre of land. In order for the county to receive state aid in rebuilding the school, the county had to have at least two acres of land, so additional land was given the county by J.W. Stewart who was superintendent of schools at that time, and the new building was constructed and served until consolidation of schools by the county. The G.M. & N. Railroad Company built a railroad through Deanburg that began operations in 1918 or 1919. A depot was built the following year. The railroad played an important part of the life of these people. Land was cleared and cross ties and stave bolts were shipped by trains. Of the men from the immediate area prominent in Chester County, Willoughby Stewart would be among the most prominent. He served Chester County as Chester County Court Clerk, County Superintendent of Schools, and as Director of Merchants & Farmers Bank, the forerunner of the present First State Bank. W. T. Stewart served in every law enforcement capacity from constable to sheriff. William Keer (Uncle Bill) a veteran of the Civil War on the Northern side was a member of the County Court for several years.