Lee C. Pruitt had several sawmill businesses in Panola County during the early 1900s. One of them was a relationship with the Virgin Lumber Company. On June 24, 1908, Lee C. Pruitt, for $1,000 from the First National Bank at Longview, mortgaged an one-half interest in the lumber manufactured at Virgin Lumber Company. On September 28, 1908, with First National Bank, he mortgaged for $1,900 his entire interest in lumber manufactured by Virgin Lumber and the Harris sawmill, the latter located twelve miles from Beckville.