History : 

In 1861 the Judson Kingsley and John Wall families, from Dekalb County, Illinois and New York respectively, were the first settlers in our area. Just before the Civil War in 1861 there were no roads or highways, just trails between settlements. In 1871, the railroad was constructed through Judson Kingsley's property. Judson Kingsley built a train station and opened the first post office in what was known as Kingsley Station. In 1874, Dr Myron S. Brownson bought 1,000 acres adjoining the Wall's property and became their neighbor. In 1876, Judson Kingsley platted the land west of the old Hotel DeFrance as the "Village of Kingsley." In 1882, Dr. Brownson platted the land around Main Street as the "Village of Paradise." In 1893, land west of the railroad and both plats were incorporated as the Village of Kingsley.