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Old Ben, a shorthorn Herford cross born on the Mike Murphy farm in 1902, grew up to be one of the world's largest steers. He weighed 135 pounds at birth and 4,700 at his death in 1910 when he slipped on a patch of ice and had to be destroyed. He stood 6'4", and was stuffed and mounted for display at the Murphy farm until 1919 when he was donated to Kokomo where he is on display at Highland Park.
Rex Gilbreath was photographed on the Ira Gilbreath farm in 1935 on the seat of Miami County's first tractor with rubber tires.
Cowboy movie star Tom Mix performed with Peru's Sells-Floto Circus from 1931-1932. He lived at the Bearss Hotel part time and when bored, would shoot out the chandelier lights.