Despite the hard, tiring work on the farm, Mr. Truman had too much energy to restrict himself to farming; his interests covered a wide range of activity.

Mr. Truman's horizons weren't at the edge of the farm. He managed to continue his reading, was involved in the National Guard and started going to night meetings of the 10th Ward Democratic Club in Kansas City headed by Mike Pendergast. He joined the Masonic Lodge at Belton and organized a new lodge at Grandview. There were good crop years and bad crop years, but profits from the farm never were excessive.

When Uncle Harrison died in 1915, he left his half interest on the Young farm as well as 300 adjoining acres that he owned to Martha Truman and her children - Harry, Vivian and Mary Jane.

World War I marked a turning point in Mr. Truman's career. After the armistice was signed, he returned briefly to the farm. He never again was directly involved in farming.

Instead of continuing as a dirt farmer, Mr. Truman eventually became president of the United States.