Author: Dr. John P. Elcik, IV

Dr. John P. Elcik, IV is married to Pamela McClanahan and they have two children: J.P. and Michelle. John is retired from a marketing career for administrative software in Higher Education. His interests include child advocacy (as a Mason and Shriner); animal rescue, education (especially eLearning), mysteries, and science fiction.
Posted on by — Leave a comment

A Couple Things

Tue 11/17/2020 10:51 AM
Beth,
Gaining strength is good, whereas doing more may be a mixed blessing.  Please be sure not to overdo it.
Rather than troubleshoot the old credentials, I created new ones and tested them.  This will get you back in:
  • User name:    XXXXXXX
  • Password:      XXXXXXX
The news about Pete is sad.  Amidst so much optimism and progress in the last 10 years, I know that prostate cancer is scary. If he is declining treatment, it must be serious for him.  I’m glad he has Christine helping. Pete and his support group will be in my prayers for sure.
All the people I reached out to through Ancestry.com messenger have the Elcik surname. I did that because the message was about getting one of the Ilcik Elcik’s to do DNA testing with me. Christine Elcik, in this case, is one of the Ilcik Elcik’s.
Thank you for sharing about Pete.
John, IV
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Terry L. Karkos, Maine Genealogist

 

November 19 at 1:38 PM.

[Terry L. Karkos is a former Staff writer, a photojournalist at Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine).  His genealogy website KarlosChronicles.com was one of the first Slovak websites I visited.  There I learned “that George F. Karkos was born in Lisbon Falls on September 11, 1899. He married Annie M. Elcik in Lisbon Falls on February 9, 1925. Annie, born in Durham, Maine, on April 10, 1905, to John and Mary (Pelcarsky) Elcik, died in Lisbon Falls on May 14, 1982. George died in Brunswick, Maine, on April 7, 1965.” Annie had a twin sister named
Elizabeth.” – Dr. John P. Elcik, IV – Editor]

John, IV – Do you know if there is a family relationship between Mary Pelcarsky (1875-1936) and Anna Pelcarsky Karkos (1877-1940? This would be the second relationship between Elcik and Karkos families as Annie M. Elcik (1905) married George F. Karkos in 1925.

Terry – No. I know Anna’s parents were Joseph Pelcarsky and Anna Belyan, though. Belyan was born c. 1848 and died in Lisbon Falls on March 1, 1938. Anna Pelcarsky was born 9-17-1877 in Parchovany, Slovakia. The funny thing is, Joseph K was 26 when he married 15-year-old Anna Pelcarsky. Wondering if it was an arranged marriage

John, IV – Thank you! This is the second time you have helped me. Years ago, when your website was active, I first learned about Annie Elcik from you. I hope you choose to bring your website back. It was well done. Warmest regards!

Terry – Working on bringing it back. I need to find a site to park it again. Thanks, John. Glad I could help

John, IV – I might be able to help. I have extra space on my SiteGround account. I could set up a WordPress site for you if you wish. Are you familiar with WordPress? Us Genealogists should stick together.

Terry – I have heard of WordPress. My brother in Utah sent me a site to check out. I will get my site back up. Several people have been asking about it. My wife and I moved to Holbrook, AZ, last August, after selling my house closer to my Dad and siblings and their families down in Apache Jct and Gilbert. In Utah, my brother Scott, who also does genealogy, just visited Saturday, driving my Dad (83) up here from AJ. I hope you are doing well.

John, IV – I am. My wife and I are adjusting to having adult children by adopting dogs. Getting our second next Sunday.

Terry – Oh, nice! We’ve got two adult kids, one outside of Green Bay and the other at the Cape entrance in Mass. I don’t know if they have pets, but we’ve got four grandkids, one of whom is autistic.

John, IV – Our son and daughter live close to us in Fort Myers, Florida. Michelle is a Pharmacy tech and 10 minutes away. JP is a teacher and just got married. They are about 45 minutes away. I tease that they live in Canada. ?

Terry – Lol.

John, IV – My daughter in law teaches autistic and otherwise challenged students. She has a gift.

Terry – Nice.

John – I have to help Pam, my wife, prepare for a yard sale. Please stay in touch and let me know if you want a WordPress site. I even have an extra domain name. ? It… Not as clever as your branding was… Lol… WordPress is easy and powerful…

Terry – Sorry, my wife needs me, too, lol. Have fun, be safe.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Pelcarsky Puzzle

Wed 11/25/2020 3:22 PM

Beth,

Yesterday I received documents and photos from Elizabeth May (Adams) Shute.  I am over the moon, happy with what she has provided.  Most of the information is related to the Skillin branch of the family, which will take time to bring into the MyCousins tree.

Where Are My Great-Grandparents Buried?

So far, her notes on the Elcik branch resurfaces one huge question, i.e., where are my Great-grandparents buried?  John Paul Elcik, Sr. (06 NOV 1866-24 MAY 1941) and Mary Pelcarsky (16 NOV 1870-23 AUG 1936)?

John Elcik, Jr. (20 FEB 18996- 31 MAR 1963) in St. Cyril is my Grandfather, and he is married to Mary A. Gertrude Byrus (5 NOV 1990-18 APR 1951). We have the benefit of a photo.

Could father and son both be buried in St. Cyril Cemetery?  I’m beginning to think so.

Who Is Mary Polscoke? 

Elizabeth’s notes identify two different individuals:

  • Maria Anna Parcheky (16 NOV 1870-23 AUG 1936); Born in Austria, died in Lewiston and buried in St. Cyril’s Cemetery. Elizabeth shows Maria as being married to John, Sr. (06 NOV 1866-24 MAY 1941).
  • Mary Polscoke (28 SEP 1887-13 AUG 1951, Born in Austria, and buried in Calvery Cemetry. Elizabeth shows Mary as being married to John, Jr. (20 FEB 1886-31 MAR 1963)

[The first record is my Great-Grandmother. She and my Great-Grandfather are buried in St. Cyril Cemetery. We have only recently found the gravesite, but we know have pictures. – Dr. John P. Elcik, Editor]

While it is comforting that we have the same birth/death dates for Mary Pelcarsky as she does for Maria Anna Parcheky, the question remains, what is the real spelling for John Sr.’s wife (her maiden name)? Mary Pelcarsky, Maria Anna Parcheky, or something else? And who is Mary Polscoke?

What is the Correct Spelling for My Great-Grandmother’s Maiden Name? 

As you know, I have documents where surnames other than Pelcarsky were used, but I discounted them as the narrative of George F. Karkos (taken from his wife Anna Elcik) seemed the more creditable.

  • Polscoke is the spelling of John Elcik, Jr’s mother on his 20 FEB 1896 birth, Maine Vital Records.
  • Pelchascay is John Elcik, Jr’s mother on his marriage to Mary Byrus (sic), Maine Marriage Index.
  • Palcsak is Mary Elcik’s mother upon her 4 OCT 1915 wedding to John Dutko, Maine Marriage Index.
  • Pelesaky is Michael J. Elcik’s mother on his 1 AUG 1930 marriage to Annie H. Sero, Maine Marriage Index.
  • Polcarski is an unknown daughter’s mother on her 29 AUG 1910 birth, Maine Vital Records.
  • Pelchaleky (Marie Pelcarsky) married Paul Elcik, Sr., Maine Vital Records.

Also, supporting the George F. Karkos spelling of Pelcarsky are:

  • Mary Pelcarsky is Michael’s mother, as recorded in the 19 JUL 1920 Record of Marriage in Lisbon Falls, Maine for Mary Sero (Clerk) and Michael J. Elcik (mill operator).
  • Mary Pelcarsky is John’s mother in the 11 JUN 1918 Record of Marriage in Lisbon Falls, Maine for Mary Byras (Home) and John Paul Elcik (Laborer).

I have checked the online records at both Mount Calvery Cemetery and St. Cyril Cemetery for three spellings: Pelcarsky, Polscoke, Parcheky.  I can’t find a gravesite using any of them.

The definitive solution to the surname puzzle may require that we find John Elcik, Sr. or Mary’s gravesite.

Beth, Do you think not all of the individuals buried at these cemeteries may be identified online? [I know, I’m driving you crazy, again.]

John, IV

P.S. I also know how much you enjoy visiting cemeteries. Take Jack with you. Lol.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Elizabeth Chute

Wed 11/25/2020 3:50 PM

I am “over the moon” ecstatic with my package.  There are gems here to keep me busy for some time. Thank you…thank you… thank you!

I’m taking excellent care of everything and setting up a different printer (one with a scanner), so I can make electronic copies and return the originals to you.

Wow!

The first thing I found of significance are clues where to find the gravesite of my Great-grandparents.  We agree on the dates of birth and death for his wife, but her maiden surname exists in official records with at least 6 different spellings. Even her first name varies between Mary and Marie.  Ouch! Finding their gravesite would be a big help.  The online records for the clues you provide didn’t work.  I have a helper in Maine that will visit the cemeteries. Beth (Purinton) Gamache is married to my 1st Cousin Jack “likes” visiting cemeteries and has taken pictures of many gravesites for me.  She is just as passionate as I am about this work.

I’m working on three big projects: the family tree, an eBook, and history, all under the umbrella title: My Cousins. Beth is co-author of the eBook.

Everything will be put on a Flash drive to accommodate the number of documents and photos I have.  Currently, it is about 20  gigabytes.

You are on my list to get one of the first copies.  I even bought your Flash drive using a Black Friday discount to inspire me.  I won’t be ready this Christmas, but I hope to publish sometime next year.

Warmest regards,

John, IV

[Elizabeth Chute, a.k.a. Elizabeth May Adams, is married to Larry Chute. Her parents are Charles Harry Adams, Sr. (1914-1986), and Edna “Ferne” Whitlock. They owned the Adams farm where my mother and Uncle Clyde are buried.  Elizabeth inherited the ancestry documents from her sister Sylvia Elaine “Sally” Adams (1939- ). Sally was married to Nelson Wentworth. Sally and I were kindred spirits when it came to recording family history.  – Dr. John P. Elcik – Editor]

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Package of Memories

Fri 11/27/2020 10:05 PM
Jeff,
The package arrived safely, and I am ecstatic about its contents. Wow!  You had the treasure trove of Elcik, Gamache memories for sure!
It may take me years to sort this out.  Not only will I be converting items to electronic media as time and expense permitting, but I will also do my best to identify items.  I’m not sure how to do that yet.
Again, THANK YOU!
With Love,
John, IV
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Our Family eBook, Entitled “My Cousins”

Fri 11/27/2020 10:28 PM
Everybody (mycousins@bloodrelatives.com, 27 people),
I just got a HUGE package from Jeff today!
The package arrived safely, and I am ecstatic about its contents. Wow!  He had the treasure trove of Elcik, Gamache, and who knows what else memories for sure!
It may take me years to sort this out.  Not only will I be converting items to electronic media, time, and expense permitting, but I will also do my best to identify items.  I’m not sure how to do that yet. Pinterest might be an option. Any suggestions?
To give you an idea of the “treasures,” the first couple of items I looked at:
  • Pictures of Nancy and Jack Gamache (including baby pictures of Nancy)
  • A copy of the Newspaper account of the Nancy Gamache and Larry Kashmer Wedding
The package includes thousands of photos (paper, not digital) and documents.  There are also hundreds, if not more, slides. I don’t yet know how to digitalize the latter.
The priority one for me now is to get my scanner setup and start with some photos.
Naturally, I plan to share, but this is a major undertaking, and I have no idea when that will happen.
This is truly awesome! If you don’t have it, Jeff’s email address is jeff@anyport.com if you want to say thanks.
Love to you all,
John, IV
P.S. It is not a competition, but if you have items to share, please consider doing it. I would love to hear from everyone.
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Status Updates

Sun 11/29/2020 1:17 AM
Beth,
First, I wish you were busy for reasons of fun.  Hospitals don’t qualify. You and Jack have had more than your fair share of visits there. No more, please.
The search for the gravesite shouldn’t be a concern of yours right now.
When you are ready, I thought you might act on Elizabeth Chute’s information that they both were buried three days after their deaths at St. Cyril’s Cemetery. John on 27 MAY 1941 and Mary 26 AUG 1936. I should have clarified just how specific her information was. I know that John Sr. and Mary are not in the online database for St. Cyril’s, but I hope you might find someone there to ask if there are individuals who don’t make the online lists. Another possibility is to ask if there could be a gap in their records? This might have been close to their beginnings as a cemetery. Sometimes early records can be problematic.
Finally, I am still sorting the treasure trove of items that Jeff sent me.  In addition to the items mentioned in my last email, I now have my father’s and my original birth certificates. And as a teaser, I have found more Gamache family items. Some are specific to Nancy.  I haven’t heard from her yet. I hope all is well and that they are getting their real estate property back soon.
Both Pam and I are doing DNA testing as our family’s paternal histories (Elcik/McClanahan) stop after the 5th generation.  On the maternal side (Skillin/Strand), the family tree is significantly extended beyond the 5th generation.
I have ordered a slide scanner to make digitalizing the 600 slides possible.  My workload is growing. Setting up the printer that will scan 500 photos is being delayed till after the holidays. My office needs reorganizing to make room for the printer and scanner. 
Bless both you and Jack; please be safe and enjoy the holidays.
John, IV