Arens, Nic 1858-1902

ARENS, VANDENBERGE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/12/2012 at 14:10:51

From the Alton Democrat of Sept 6, 1902
At Remsen last Saturday morning Nic Arens placed a revolver to his forehead and died. He was a distant relative of the Arens at Alton and during prohibition times was known here as proprietor of the "saloon on wheels" with which he outwitted the law. He married in Alton the daughter of Peter Van den Berge of Orange City. The following account of his death is taken from this week's issue of the Remsen Bell-Enterprise :
For about eight years Nic. Arens had held the position as manager of the Gehlen flour and feed exchange at Remsen. About nine o'clock last Saturday morning customers called for flour, but Arena was no where to be found., J. P. Brucher and Burl Atkinson resolved to open the ware house, and Burl Atkinson climbed in through a small window to open the door from the inside when he found the man they looked for sitting in an easy chair cold in death, killed by his own hand as all surroundings indicated. Preparations for the cruel proceeding were made by the suicide as only one whose mind had become fixed on that subject, and deranged for all other thoughts, could arrange them. The front and side door of the ware room were carefully locked, and there in an arm chair, his feet crossed on the table before him, his head gently resting on the back of the chair, his left hand resting in his lap, holding the thirtyeight caliber bulldog revolver, sat the unfortunate man, cold and stiff in death when found. The bullet had been fired with wonderful accuracy entering the forehead between the eyes apparently causing instant death.
Coroner Beely was notified and he arrived with the eleven-thirty train. A jury was empanelled and an inquest held in the office of Kass brothers. After having heard all evidence obtainable the jury returned the verdict that deceased came to his death by his own hand. The circumstances that lead Nic Arens to the rash act are as follows;—About the twenty-fifth of August Nic was notified in a letter from Gehlen Bros, his employers that on the first day of September for economical reasons his place in Remsen would be declared vacant and the work of the office done by Mr. Brucher, The same letter declared that a job would, be open for Arens at the Gehlen mill at Le Mars. From the time Arena received this letter he was restless. He complained to his friends over his misfortune saying. 1 am not used to hard work,., I cannot work I am now too old to learn to do hard work What Will become of me? But one thing is left for me to do. The constant brooding over these things and the free use of liquor drove the unfortunate man to madness, On Friday evening be became unruly at home and an officer had to be called: He declared then, Tomorrow is my last day. He left his house shortly before five o’clock Saturday morning, and was sitting in front of John Kramer's butcher shop about five 'clock, when Mr. Kramer bade him good morning, and invited him to a morning drink which offer was accepted.
Mr, Kramer says; Arens appeared sober then, was not talkative as usual and wore a disturbed look.
No one claims to : have , seen Arens after that, until he was found-dead in his warehouse. Deceased, leaves a wife and four children, His aged mother, Mrs. N. Kass, Mrs. P. Homan, Mrs. J. Duster, and Mrs. J. P. Mersch, his sisters residing in Remsen,: as is Mrs. M. Lehnertz who resides in Muenster Texas. Tony Arens of Currie Minnesota and Frank Arens of Lake Park are his nearer surviving relatives; Nic Arens was born in Angelsberg, in the Grand Duche of Luxembourg in 1858 when but six years old he came with his parents to the United States. He resided later in Alton and forr the last eighteen or nineteen years in Remsen.