San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-14
Mrs. Helen johnson Sells
$780, 900 Worth of Property
Makes This Unusual Rec
ord After Entering Real
Estate Business Here Only
Three Years Ago--Is
Selling the South Side
and Plans to Become Ex-
elusive Home Builder
Soon.

AiS' heieH johnson, real estate
dealer with offices in the Moore build
ing. is one Of San Antonio's leading
business women. She has been selling
real estate in this city only during the
last three years but has made an un-
usual record. She has actually sold
more than 100000 worth of property
in this city. almost all of which has
been small homesites. At present Mrs.
johnson is constructing small homes
on the South Side and it is probable
that. in the near future. she will devote
most of her time to home construction.
Three years ago Mrs. johnson first
was employed in San Antonio by ]. II.
kirkpatrick, local real estate. man. to
sell lots in San Fernando addition.
Despite her several years of experience
as saleswoman Mrs. JDhnson's eff
forts. time and energy We're lost dur
ing the first six weeks in The employ
Of, Mr.. kirkpatrick. Every day during
that time, from seven in the morning
until ten at night, at times. Mrs. John.
son worked hard. She would work up
scores of prosuects only to have them
fail TO buy, she says in relating her
experiences. During the last of those
six weeks Mrs. Johnson had an ex-
perience which was exceedingly dis
couraging. About seventeen people
had made appointments with her.
whom she thought would be interested
in buyingfa domestic in San Fernando.
Not one of them kept his promise. This
was the straw that almost ''brole the
camefs back" Mrs. johnson says. but
after good cry" she was ready to
face the hard and cold world again.
This time it was with renewed cour-
age. Assuming an air of responsibility
and taking on determined expression
she began in earnest.
Makes Great Success.
This time her prospects were not
presented with the opportunity to
break an appointment. 1t was favor
lite trick of hers at that time to visit
a prospect and ''talk the South Side"
and San Fernando as the most attrac-
tive domestic in San Antonio" on
some occasions until the prospect was
almost willing TO buy in order to get
rid of her.
Her luck began 10 change. The fol-
lowing day. probably after the good
cry" Mrs. johnson sold her first LOT
with little trouble. In visiting the
home Of the buyer she sold two more
lots. one TO another member of the
buyers family and one to the next door
neighbor. From that day on she did
herself proud selling lots for Mr..
Kirkpatrick in his. San Fernando adj
dition. She was one of the Invest and
most effective saleswomen that he ever
employed. ~ w.
Scarcely year and one-half ago
Mrs. johnson <began the real estate
business for herself Establishing Of,
fees in the Moore building. Mrs. John
son began the sale Of the South Side.
Recently she began the construction of
small homes and by the first of the
year it is probable that she will follow
this line exclusively.
Makes Unusual Record.
Mrs. johnson probably has one of
the best records Of any real estate
dealer in San Antonio. having sold
more than 100000 worth of property
during her first three years in the
business. She is generally known as
one of the shrewdest. smoothest and
squarest traders in local real estate
circles.
One of Mrs. Johnson's hobbies is
the raising and the giving away of
flowers. She has adopted the plan of
giving cuttings. seeds, etc. TO every
person purchasing new home from
her. She reasons that the little favor
costs her practically nothing. consid-
ering the fact that she is doing some
thing for someone as well as aiding in
identifying the city.
Mrs. Johnson's chief form of recre-
alton is work. The work of selling
San Antonio is her pleasure.
Her early home was in Syracuse.
New York. When nine years old,
which was five years following the
death of her father. she saw that the
responsibility of providing for fam
lily would sooner or later become hers.
At this age she received her first sales
experience which was the main part of
her first job. This was selling pins
and pin cushions. She canvassed the
residential districts in the city in
which she lived from early morning
until night and managed to sell enough
cushions and pins to purchase her
school supplies. She says now. that at
that time she did not realize the val
liable experience obtained as pin sales
girl but in selling real estate there are
times when the meager knowledge
gained then is often beneficial. ..
Receiving n high school education at
night and working in a department
store OF Chicago when only IA years