Biography of Michael Broun - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 52 Michael Broun. Among the people who have recently made their homes on the Petit Jean Mountain, none have made greater improvements, or done more to show the advantages of that locality for a summer resort and to prove its adaptability for fruit growing than Mr. Broun, the subject of this sketch. In 1881 he made a settlement on the summit of the mountain, two miles from its brow or point, and five miles from those great natural curiosities, the Cedar Falls and the Rock House. Here Mr. Broun opened, cleared and improved his farm. He set out extensive vineyards, and from his success in fruit growing has demonstrated its advantages as a fruit-growing locality. In 1889 he made 820 gallons of grape wine, and is still constantly increasing his orchards and vineyard. Believing it would be a desirable location for a summer resort, he built a large hotel on his place during the spring of 1889, and in the summer of that year it was opened to the public. With plenty of fruit, the best of spring water, and a temperature of some 8 degrees lower than the valley, it will be apt to become very popular in the future. Mr. Broun is a native of Lorraine. He was born January 14, 1840, and is the son of Nicholas and Catherine (Noell) Broun; parents were natives of the same country; father was born in 1790, and mother about 1800. They were the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter. This family emigrated to America in 1847, and settled in Michigan. They moved to Ohio in 1869, where they remained until their deaths which occurred in 1876 and 1888, respectively. They were life-time members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Broun, Sr., followed farming during his life in America. The subject of this sketch was married in 1869 to Miss Matilda, daughter of Julian and Frances Deumas. Mr. and Mrs. Broun are the parents of three children, named John G., Julius and Alice A. By a former marriage Mrs. Broun is the mother of Mary, wife of Silas Watkins. Mr. Broun came to Arkansas from Michigan in 1878, and settled at Morrilton. Here he engaged in the real estate business and for a time was land agent for the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad. In 1881 he made his settlement on the mountain as before stated. He now owns 180 acres of good land, has about 40 under cultivation and is rapidly clearing and improving more. His hotel, now coupled with fruit-growing interests, occupy his time, yet he is often called upon to do surveying, and he has served one term as County Surveyor, from 1884 to '86. He and family are members of the Catholic Church.