Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1899 — BICYCLE ON HIS MONUMENT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BICYCLE ON HIS MONUMENT.

The Aged Wheelman of Peoria Bn a Unique Tombstone. Thomas W. Davis, of Peoria, IH., has reared a monument to commemorate his career as a cyclist, and Incidentally to mark the resting-place of his wife. The shaft, which is five feet high and two feet square, bears a design of a bicycle on the top. The design is ten inches long and five Inches high, and is complete In every particular. It displays prominently all the parts of the bicycle, even to the name plate. On one side the monument bears the facts of his wife’s death and the other is blank. His idea Is to proclaim to generations to come the fact of his being a long-distance rider. He said that he fancied that he could

not have selected a better design for the top of the monument. Doves and open blbles arc &ld-fashioned, swinging gates a mockery, and a bicycle was as swift a messenger to any destination as could be found. He knew his wife would approve the design if she were alive, for she liked the wheel and was deeply interested in his bicycle career. Mr. Davis is one of the champnlon long-distance riders of the United States, and has a long string of bars denoting century runs. For several years Mr. Davis, who is now 72 years of age, has been among the first half-dozeu of the long-distance riders of the country, one year covering 14,000 miles and ranking third. Since he attained the age of 62 he has eoYer* ed 62,(XX) miles on his wheel.

DAVIS AND HIS MONUMENT.