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Harry S Truman was born to John and Martha Ellen Truman on May 8, 1884. His parents moved from farm-to-farm in Missouri before settling outside Independence. Truman's family had strong ties to the land. Both sets of grandparents immigrated to Jackson County, Missouri from Kentucky in the mid 1800s.

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The oldest of three, Harry was named after his mother's brother Harrison. His middle initial "S" was said to represent both grandfathers, Anderson Shippe Truman and Solomon Young. Harry was six when the family moved to Independence.
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After high school, Harry held several jobs before returning to the family farm at Grandview. He worked on the farm from 1906 to 1917. A practical approach to life combined with hard work on the farm honed Harry's skills and patience. These traits served him well in his future business and political pursuits.
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