Miss Mary Jane Truman

Miss Mary Jane Truman

Mary Jane Truman (1889-1978) = Pianist/Organist, Sunday School teacher, & sister to former US President Harry S. Truman. Mary Jane was the third child born to John Anderson (1851-1914) and Martha Ellen Young Truman (1852-1947) on August 12. Mary Jane's paternal grandparents were Anderson Shipp and Mary Jane Holmes Truman and her maternal grandparents were Solomon and Harriet Louisa Gregg Young. She was named for her paternal grandmother and Harry's daughter, Mary Margaret Truman was, in turn, named for her.

Solomon Young's Home, Grandview, MO.

Sometime after the Trumans moved to Independence in 1890, Mary's brothers Harry and Vivian came down with diphtheria and she was taken to Grandma Young's in Grandview, MO. to stay until her brothers were well. When Mary Jane was older, she helped with chores in the house and learned to cook for the family as well as the farm hands. She rode a horse on errands to town. After Grandpa passed away, Grandma Young needed help running the farm, so the Truman's moved back. Mary Jane and her mother lived on the farm until the 1940s when they moved into Grandview.

As a member of Grandview's First Baptist Church (f. 1848), Mary Jane taught a Sunday School class and hosted Sunday School picnics on the lawn of their home. Like Harry, she could play the piano or organ and did so regularly for church services. When she was 19, she played for the Grandview Methodist's very first church service, then at 8th and Goode.

She was a postal clerk and an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. She was instrumental in the sale of lands for the Truman Shopping Center built in 1957.

More to Read:
1. Harry S. Truman: Missouri Farm Boy. By Wilma J. Hudson. 1973.
2. History of Grandview, Missouri: 1844-1994. Grandview Historical Society, 1995.
3. "History of Grandview." City Hall,  City of Grandview, MO.
4.  Jackson County Pioneers. By Pearl Wilcox. 1975.
5. Mr. President. The First Publication from the Personal Diaries, Private Letters Papers, and Revealing Interviews of Harry S. Truman. By William Hillman. 1952.

6. “Harry Truman: The Millionaire Next Door” By Brian Burnes. The Kansas City Star

     Magazine, Kansas City, MO.; January 15, 2012. PP. 6-13.
7. Truman’s Grandview Farm. By Jon Taylor. 2011. Also read here. 
8. Solomon Young's Farm Marker History 

9. First Baptist Church History. 
10. Missouri Roadsides: The Traveler's Companion. By Bill Earngey. University of MO

     Press, 1995.

11. Childhoods of the American Presidents. By William O. Foss. McFarland & Co, 2005.
12. "Truman and the Trails" Niel M. Johnson. Overland Journal, Vol. 5, Number 2, 1988. Pp. 25-29 (photo of Solomon Young included in article)

13. Some Truman Photos here
14. Sister-in-law, Bess Truman's biography.
15. This article gives names of Miss Mary's girlfriends. See if you can find them. 

16. Findagrave #6137032


Places to Visit in MO.:
1. Former Truman Homes (private residences), on Chrysler St. & at 909 W. Waldo Ave., Independence.  

2.  Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence

3. Historical marker at Truman (former name: Corners) Marketplace Shopping Center, between 71/49 Hwy and Blue Ridge Blvd, Grandview

4. Church of God, 8th & Goode, Grandview
5. First Baptist Church Historic Room, 15th and Main St., Grandview (by appointment only)
6. Solomon Young's home, 12301 Blue Ridge Blvd, Grandview. Truman Farm Home
7. Annual Truman Heritage Festival - Harry's Hay Days, Grandview (parade,

     craft/food vendors, BBQ contest, entertainment, etc.) 
8. Grandview Historical Society, Train Depot Museum, Freedom Park (behind City Hall), 1205 Jones, Grandview. Greater Kansas City History Day

Update: The National Archives holds the Presidential Secretary's Files from the Truman Administration (1945-1960). Among those papers is his diary he kept while in office.