The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-07
AWOMAN BUILT IT
Miss Lille johnson Proves Her
self a Good Carpenter.
Salvation Army Lassie Erects a
Nine-ROOm House.
THE WORK OF YEARS.
Began With Three Tools, a Saw,
Hammer and Hatchet.
Had a Hard Struggle to Raise
Money to Keep Going.

Kansas City, Kan. Oct. TT built
A. ali myself, except a little bit OF
Dotch work done by $4-a-day car
0enter.''
AMiss Lille. NJ. Johnson 2s4S North
Eighteenth street. was telling how she
built the nire room house in which she
Ives
Miss johnson began work on her
house in the fall following the flood in
the Kaw valley of 1903. She was u
Salvation army worker in Armourdale
&C. the time Of the flood She lost
eFerything except 81. She went to a
real estate Arm and arranged to buy
owl payments the 100 feet of ground on
which her house stands. The first pay
ment was $50, but she was allowed TO
take the ground on the promise that
she would pay the amount in thirty
lays She kept her promise. After
the ground was secured she started
canyassing for a medicated soap firm
and soon made enough to fence tbs
ground The cold weather forced her
to seek indoor work. Then she began
wrapping candies in a factory.
In May, 1904, Miss Johnson built a
two-room box house, doing all the
work herself and getting the lumber
on payments. After moving into her
new home she received two women us
boarders. She was able, by the first OF
July, to buy COW. She sold the milk
and with her earnings bought an in
cubator- Then she reared fifty chick
ems, hoping to use the proceeds of their
sale to make a payment on the ground
She penned up the Springs" to fatteri
them, but thief stole them. Then
Miss johnson found herself facing a
payment without the necessary money.
However, her resources were not ex-
hausted. She began taking in washing.
Through these various means she paid
for the lot
But Miss Johnson was not satisfied.
She must enlarge her house. She
graded her lot with a spade and wheel
he 11id fhn 1of
the frames. rooted, boxed and weather.
boarded the addition. But she was
forced to hire carpenter to make her
window frames. She has finished the
entire interior of the house, laying the
floors. lathing, plastering and paperins
the walls. The plans of the mouse
were made by her and many original
ideas have entered into it. She has 81
large cupboard in the dining room.
which extends along one whole side
of the room. This cupboard has COM
partments for all the cooking necessi-
ties, flour. coffee. tea and spices ana u
large shelf for displaying dishes.
In her living room Miss johnson has
a bay window fitted up as a conserva-
tory In this she has many beautiful
well kept A large grape arbor. fruit
trees and flower beds with blue grass
lawn make the place attractive.
How did I learn to do carpenter
WoTh = w ny. L just round could do
1t, when built my little two-roorn box
house. and 1 determined to try my
hand on something better Miss John
son said
81 only had three tools when I start
ed out-a hammer. Ratchet and saw
As I made more money 1 was able 70
buy more tools, till now I have a COM
lete set.
at hope to finish painting the house !
this fall. and when I get the porch COZ
umns in place in the spring the rancn
will be finished. And I'll bet no pass
IT"