Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-11-26
WOMAN BUILDS HOUSE
EREcTs NlNE-RooM STRUCTURE
IN KANSAS CITY UNAIDED.
Plans Also Of Her Own Making-Hired
Four-D oIlar-a-Day Carpenter, But
Found That He Botched
Thinos.

Kansas City. Mo.-Miss Lille NJ.
Johnson has completed and moved
into nine.room house at No. 2S4S
pride: Il built 1t all myself, except
little bit of botched wor!. done by
four-dollar-aday carpenter"
Miss johnson began work on her
house in the fall following the flood
in the Kaw valley in 1906. She was
Salvation Army worker in Armourdale
at the time of the flood. She lost
everything except seven dollars. She
went to a real estate firm and arrang-
ed to buy on payments the 100 feet of
ground on which her house stands.
The first payment was $40, hNt she
was allowed to take the ground on the
promise that she would pay the
amount in 80 days. She kept her
promise.
After the ground was secured she
started eanyassipg for 4 msdicated
soap firm and soon made enough to
fence the ground. The cold weather
forced her to seek indoor work. Then
she began wrapping candles in fses
tory.
In May, 1904, Miss Johnson built a
twn-roem DOLLHOUSE, doing all the
work herself and getting the lumber
on easy payments After moving into,
her new home she received two wom-
en- as hoarders. She was able, by the
first of July. to buy a eow, she' sold
the milk, and with her earnings bought
an incubator.
, Inen she reared 50 chickens, hop.
ing to make payment on the ground.
She penned up the springs" to fatten
them, but thief stole them, Hhea
i Miss johnson found herself facing .
payment without the necessary money.
However, her resources were not ex-
hausted. She began taking in wash
ing, 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 spade and
wheelbarrow, laid the foundation, put
up the frames, rooted, boxed and
weather-boarded the addition.
4 But she was forced to hire a car
penter to make her window frames
She has finished the entire interior Of
the house, laying the floors, lathinG
plastering and papering the walls
The plans of the house were made by
her and many original ideas have en-
tered into it. She has large cup
board in the dining-room, which ex
tends along one whole side of thu
room. This cupboard has compart
ments for all the cooking necessities
| flour, coffee, tea and spices and ;
large shelf for displaying dishes.
II In her living room Miss Johnson ha'
a bay window fitted up as conserva
tory. In this she has many beautiful
| plants.
The grounds about the house ar,
well kept. A large grape arbor, frui
trees and flower beds with the blu,
grass lawn make the place attractive
How did learn to do carpente
work? Why, just found gould do i,
, when / built my little two-room bo.
house, and determined to try M
hand on something BETTER Mis-
! Johnson said.
Il had only three tools when
i started out-a hammer, Ratchet. AM
: saw. AS 1 made more money wa
able to buy more tools, till now l hav
a complete set.
! Il hope to finish painting the hous
this fall, and when get the pore
columns in place in the spring tn
: ranch will be finished. And I'll bet n
passer-by would know that woma
: built it,"