Delila Jane Blake

  General Notes:

!Lila had 9 children.

Lila Blake watched her parents leave for thier new home with her sister Nellie and brothers Wes and Fred. She had been quite ill so they thought it best to leave her with her grandmother until she was stronger.
A couple of years later Lila was a very happy girl when she learned that she and grandmother would soon be leaving for Manitoba too. Mr. Greenway was taking a wagon train of settlers to take up homesteads close to her parents. Mr. Oke's family were going too.
It was a long trip for Lila at only 9 years old but there were so many interesting things to see on the journey.
First the train ride to St. Paul; then the boat ride up the Red Riverto Emerson, then by wagon train to the Pembina Hills. So many new andinteresting experiences.
One esperience had her worried for a few minutes. In fording the river, the men thought it best that she and her grandmother should ride inthe wagon. The water kept rising, first it covered their feet and then almost up to the seat they wdere sitting on. Little lila wasn't going to let anyone know she was afraid but then grandmother became excited and called out,"Take Me 'ome, Silas, take me 'ome."
Would they have to go back to Exeter with Grandma, she wondered. Suddenly it seemed such a long journey. But Grandfather was answering, "Thee ain't got no 'ome"
Good, they would go on!
The water became shallow and soon they were out of the river and climbing the Pembina hills. When they reached the top they could see the lovely prairie land stretching ahead of them for miles, and not long after she was in her mother's arms.
Shortly after this Mrs. Blake had twin sons.

Lila and her brothers attended the first school named Snowflake, as soon as it was built. When she passed her entrance exam she took one year of high school in Manitou but became so interested in sewing that she entered the dressmaking shop as an apprentice.
She was working in this shop when Nellie McLung cme there to have herwedding dress made. At the time, Nellie was teaching in a school close to Manitou. Lila worked on this gown and as her measurements were the same as Nellies she was often used as a model when Nellie could not come in for a fitting.

By Myrtle Garrett ( a daughter of Delila Jane Blake.)

Delila married Isaack Handford on 6 Oct 1892.