One of the long-standing goals of my ancestry research has been to determine whether two Elcik families—long referred to as the “Elsik” and “Ilcik” families—were, in fact, related.
I have always believed they were. The question was how.
The Story of Two Grandfathers
I have been attempting to link my great-grandfather with the great-grandfather of another John Elcik—one who lives in Rocky Point, New York, while I live in Florida.
John Elsik (1866–1941) married Mary Pelcarsky (1875–1936). Through them descend John Elcik Jr., John Elcik III, and me (John Elcik IV).
In the 1910 U.S. Census, John recorded his surname as Elsik, while the rest of the family used Elcik. John immigrated in 1891; Mary followed in 1896. Ancestry.com and my own research confirm that John Elsik is my great-grandfather.
John Elcik (1886–1982) married Mary Jeho Zena Jonek (1887–1951). John immigrated in 1905, Mary in 1906. Family oral history tells us the surname was changed from Ilcik to Elcik at Ellis Island.
A Marriage Connection
We already knew there was a confirmed connection between the families by marriage. George Elcik married Anna Gamache, establishing a social—but not blood—link between the two Elcik lines.
The DNA Connection
A review of DNA matches on Ancestry.com revealed a match tied to Andrew Elcik (1911). This DNA line leads directly to John J. Elcik (1943–2018), and then to John Elcik of Rocky Point, New York.
We Are Related
DNA confirmed what documents alone could not. According to Ancestry’s relationship calculator, John of Rocky Point is my great-grandnephew of the husband of my grandaunt.
The phrasing may be complex—but the conclusion is simple: we are related.
— Dr. John P. Elcik, IV