The village was platted by Joseph H. Penn and first called Pennsville. It grew up around the junction of the Cadiz Branch Railroad and the main line of the Indiana and Steubenville Railroad. There was a turntable between the branch and main line and a reservoir for water to use in the steam engines. There were two saloons, a general store, post office, livery stable, grain mill, school, telegraph office and a rooming house. A plaque denotes where President-elect Lincoln, General George Custer, President Andrew Johnson, General Ulysses Grant, and Adm. Farragut were served meals in James Cady’s "well-known eating place."