My Genealogy Hound

John Gillen, proprietor of the Gillen Springs, three and a half miles from Hot Springs, was born in Essex County, N. Y., in 1841. His father, Hugh Gillen, was a native of Ireland, in which country he was engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years, when he emigrated to America, and located in the State of New York. Mr. Gillen knows but little of the early history of his parents, as they died when he was a small child, and he was then adopted by an uncle. In 1867 he left New York and went to Louisiana, where he remained about a year, going thence to Mobile, and from there to Little Rock, Ark., in 1868, where he resided two years. In 1870 he came to Hot Springs, and was occupied in running a restaurant for several years, after which he purchased 140 acres of land, including the fine springs called ‘‘Gillen’s Springs,” located one mile and a half from “Hell’s Half Acre,’’ and a mile and a quarter west of what is known as ‘‘One Thousand Dripping Springs.” These points are very familiar to tourists. Here Mr. Gillen built a large hotel as a fine summer resort, and, surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery, has gained a wide reputation. His springs are known as ‘‘Sweet Springs,” “ Iron Springs,” “White Sulphur Springs,” and “Mountain Springs,” from the different quality of the waters, all possessing rare medicinal properties, surrounding which is a beautiful park. His hotel is elegant in all of its apportionments, having been finished at a cost of several thousand dollars. The service and table is unexcelled. Mr. Gillen is excavating into the mountain, with the purpose of tapping the hot water vein, and conveying it through pipes into his hotel. This excellent home of comfort, with its picturesque surroundings, noted springs and affable proprietor, ranks among the most noted resorts in Arkansas.