In 1838, Steven G. Wentworth bought the Pennington land and laid out the west part of town in fourteen lots. These lots were on either side of Main Street and extended from West Street to Davis Creek. It is said that Mr. William Brown, and uncle to Mr. Steven Wentworth, paid Asa Pennington, two hundred dollars to change the name of the settlement from Clayville to Brownsville.

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The history of Sweet Springs began with a settlement three miles east of town at Westbrook Ford on the Blackwater River.  Edward Reavis, six members of this family, and seven Negro salves arrived in 1818 and built a house on this site.  From Barren County, Kentucky, Mr. Reavis was friendly to the Indians, probably of the Osage tribe.  Perhaps Mr. Reavis become best known for the salt he produced by boiling saltwater from the salt springs in large vats.  With so many salt licks in the area, it seemed only natural to call the place Salt Pond.

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