Tuesday, March 4, 2014

52 Ancestors - Charlie Honkawaara

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her.

Charlie Waara at his Watch & Jewelery Shop
Charlie Honkawaara (Warra) was my great granduncle. . According to records, he was  the last child of Sakris Honkawaara and  Britta Maria born in Pudasjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland before they immigrated to United States. I've not been able to pinpoint his exact birth date, but he was probably born about 1882. 

According to Velma Deydey, Charlie’s niece, in the book “Echoes of Coteau” , Charlie and his wife Olga ran a restaurant in Dunblane.  In 1921 they sold the restaurant and Charlie was a pump man for CNR. Then in 1932 Charlie and Olga moved to Moose Jaw, where Charlie operated a jewellery and watch repair shop. Charlie seemed to be a man of many talents. He was a machinist, woodworker, drummer, shop owner and watch maker. Charlie was even a casket maker.

Although Charlie and his wife Olga Kellokoski never had any children, their home seemed to always be full. As their parents got older they moved in with Charlie and Olga. First Olga's mother, then  Charlie's parents. 

In the 1921 census, Charlie and Olga still have Charlie's mother, Britta, living with them. Olga is listed as a restaurant keeper and they have two young ladies of 18, who are waitresses, staying with them.  One of them is their niece Aino Mustonen. 

Charlie is listed in the Canadian Voters list, as Charles Waara. He appears many times living on High Street West in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada from 1940 to 1958. He is listed as a jeweller or watch maker. 
 

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