Pilot Grove was founded in the early 1850s on the Bonham-McKinney stage line. It was first called Lick Skillet and was renamed in 1858 for the J.P. Dumas Ranch. It was the site of the Lee-Peacock feud from 1865 to 1871 between former Confederate Capt. Bob Lee, with his gold, and Union supporter Lewis Peacock. Although Lee was killed in 1865, his followers continued the fight until Peacock was shot.