Willis Johnson

<p>Willis Johnson was born in 1858 and became a house slave responsible for cooking and chopping wood for woodburning stoves as well as other duties. He invented the mechanical mixer-or eggbeater-to help in the kitchen especially when creating chocolate lemon and coconut cakes. He became a master chef after the Civil War. He could not read or write at that time. Willis Johnson: Inventor shares this fascinating man's life and accomplishments...and includes recipes for cake!</p>