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Editing Standards


Tue 7/14/2020 5:35 PM

We just got a reply to your question:

“Are there standards for punctuation? I was also looking for editing guidelines. For example, do you recommend 5 Jun 1999; 5 June 1999, 5 JUN 1999, etc. And should middle initials be followed with punctuation, James S. or James S? And is Senior Sr….”.

Hi John!

My name is Tina. I’m a Directly Expert and an Ancestry user just like you. I’m here to help you resolve any concerns you may have.

I completely understand your concern. There are millions of family trees on Ancestry and consistency is key but every tree owner will adopt their own editing formats. You can truly enter the information in the clearest way possible for you. Being consistent on all of your family trees is more than enough and if your privacy settings are set to public, people viewing your trees will be incredibly grateful and happy to encounter well put together information.

Please let me know if you have any other questions and I hope you are having a good day. Stay safe and well John!

Tina S.

[I can speculate as to why there is an absence of the period “.” after a middle initial in a name. If you copy and paste a name to use as a file name the period has to be removed in order for the full name to be used as part of a file name. It is a practical matter and as a pragmatist, I have elected to do the same. – Editor] 

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Facebook Chat – John Elcik (Florida) and John Elcik (New York)

July 15, 2020, through July 19, 2020

July 15, 2020, 7:20 AM

John Elcik (Florida)  – Would you or a member of the family be interested in some ancestry research I’m doing? I have a real mystery to solve and could use another person’s opinion. It could be fun. I can provide additional details, and there is no obligation after you see the question and analysis I have done. Warmest regards, John P.S. if you prefer email for this, my address is johnelcik@msn.com

July 16, 2020, 1:42 PM

John Elcik (New York) – Hi John. I would be interested! I know there must be some relation between us since the last name Elcik is not common and our relatives came from Lisbon Falls. If there’s anything I can do to help with the research or anything you want to show me, probably the best way to reach me is at my work email since I am always at work, my email at work is John.Elcik@dfa.state.ny.us. Also, I don’t mind you using the instant messenger on Facebook.

July 18, 2020, 7:32 AM

My grandfather Andrew Elcik was born in Lisbon Falls on a farm in 1911. He eventually settled in New York City and raised his family in Queens, New York. My father just recently passed away, was also named John Elcik. My father’s brother Andrew Elcik is still alive and lives in Plainview.  I know there is a very direct relationship here.

John Elcik (Florida) – I’m going to use the email address as I don’t know how to attach documents to the messenger. ? I’m sending two emails initially, but please don’t feel you need to respond right away other than a short note to say you get them. I agree we are related, but I’ve been years in coming up with my theory on why it has been so difficult to prove. The first email will have five documents. It would be beneficial to read them in the order I created them, so I have given each a number. The second email will be an invitation to access the Family Tree on Ancestory.com. They offer free 15-day trials. I’m looking forward to this. Enjoy!

John Elcik (New York) –  Great, sounds good, John ?

John Elcik (Florida) – Can you read your work email from home? If not, I sent a new update that may invalidate much of my work, depending on whether it was your grandfather or an older relative that went through Ellis Island. If it was your grandfather, It may invalidate my theory that your grandparents arrived here in the early 1900s. Your grandfather would have come sometime in the 1940-50s. My hope will then ride on a Europen connection between the families. More difficult to prove but just as real to me. ?

Having read more about the economic and political turmoil in Europe, it makes sense if family ties were forged before we got here. There probably were a dozen or more “waves” of immigration over a hundred years. I got caught up in the close timing between two of the arrivals, just 15 years apart. And there is also the Lisbon Falls connection.

John Elcik (New York) – My great grandparents arrived in the early 1900s. I know that for fact and then settled in Lisbon Falls, Maine. John, according to the tree, you are confusing my dad as my grandfather! My father is John Elcik, and he was born in 1943 died in 2018 my grandfather was Andrew Elcik, born in Lisbon Falls, Maine 1911, died in 1995. I was born in 1965, and I am also John Elcik, as you know! Since you are in your 60’s, your generation is somewhere between my dad and me!

John Elcik (Florida) – I have a lot more info to send you, But I have to get organized, and I will forward it to you. I have access to my work email at home, but I’m not going to be home much this weekend. I may not get to look at it until Monday! There are a lot of things you had correct. My great grandfather John Elcik did die in 1962, so you have that right!

John Elcik (New York) – Because of a lack of work up in Maine during the Great Depression, my grandfather Andrew Elcik came to NYC in about 1932. He settled in Queens, NY! He married an Italian American, Jeannie Pascarella! My grandparents had two children (my dad) John Elcik, born in 1943, and my uncle Andrew Elcik born in 1941. Both my dad and uncle settled on Long Island, where we remain! I have a sister Karen (Elcik) McDonald, born in 1968! My uncle Andrew had three children; Christine was born in 1965, Andrew born in 1967, and Jacqueline was born in 1970.

July 19, 2020, 3:05 AM

John Elcik (Florida) – Curiosity killed the cat; satisfaction brought it back. Can you point me to a relatively current picture? Who is Nicholas?

John Elcik (New York) – Nicholas is my son born in 2001, and Katherine is my daughter born in 2005. I have two children, and my wife is Deborah Elcik (Polak ) Born 1968! Whose recent picture would you like me to send to you ???

John Elcik (Florida) – I think I have been confusing Nicholas and you. Silly, I know. The pictures of John J. got me confused. I believe now you are the guy with glasses, and you have Nicolas’s image on the cover of Facebook? If so, I think you are about 15 years my junior? I was born in 1952.

John Elcik (New York) – I am the older guy with glasses. My son Nick is young, only 19! More confusing is I am John Elcik, and my dad was John J Elcik. No Sr. or Jr. stuff to worry about.

John Elcik (Florida) – My son is the V. Tremendous social pressure! J.P., as we call him, is getting married this year. Talk about pressure. ?

John Elcik (New York) – Wow, congrats I got married older, so my kids are still pretty young.

John Elcik (Florida) – This explains the reaction to my brother’s picture. I thought I was talking to glasses until I saw the cover photo. ? I’ve got to go. Pam is calling. Talk another time again. Have a great day!

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Facebook Chat – John Elcik and Janet (Lucas) Welsh

July 20, 2020, through July 23, 2020

July 20, 2020, 11:14 AM

John Elcik: Janet, this one is just for you!

Janet Welch: Oh, John ??❤️??❤️??❤️! You have no idea how much this picture means. I’ve never seen anything like this.

Janet Welch: I miss my parents so very much ❤️

John Elcik: Me too, both your and Jack’s parents were special to all three of us, Elcik boys.

Janet Welch: John Elcik and you boys to them.

John Elcik: In addition to my memories of your parents, I remember you and your siblings, the big house in York, and how hard your parents worked.

Janet Welch: John Elcik? That’s so wonderful ❤️. Thank you sooo much for posting that picture. I absolutely LOVE it. ?

Janet Welch: John Elcik, my immediate family, was and still is so valued. We’ve remained very close. Our Dad was always saying stay close, help each other out. My parents were both very hard workers. Nose to the grindstone, never, ever complaining. I do not know how they managed what they did. I have a tremendous amount of respect for both of them. Miss them to this very day as I’m sure you miss yours.

John Elcik: I said York, but as I recall, it was Old Orchard Beach and a great place to live in the summer. I’ve heard that the house may now be bed and breakfast?

John Elcik: I’ve often told my wife and children that I would like a house like you had and the opportunity to have several generations live together. I idolized what you had with a large, close family. ♥️

Janet Welch: Our former home here in York is currently a B&B. It’s called Chapman Cottage. Google it. Many many fun memories were had there. Very tough moving from Lisbon Falls initially, but absolutely the best thing for all of us. I live in such a beautiful area. Very blessed.

John Elcik: Yes, blessed!

Janet – So you live in FT Myers full time? If so, how long?

John – Approximately ten years. We moved here from Wellington on Florida’s East coast. The move Florida happened when J.P. and Michelle were doing their last years of high school.

John – Is anyone else we know in Florida?

John – Do you ever come south? We can be hosts.

Janet – We are in York, have a winter home in The Village’s, FL for the past 7+ years, and just rebought another year-round home, after selling our previous one of 19 years, with our son and his family in Rangeley, ME.

John – Do you have a golf cart for the villages? I love that community!

Janet – My brother, Rod, lives full time in The Village’s, FL, with his beautiful wife, Rose. His daughter Megan lives near him.

John – Two homes, Wow! It would be great to see them and you! You and my sister-in-law are house rich!

Janet – We will have to meet up this winter if all goes well regarding this virus. We are waiting to see how all goes with a vaccine before heading back to FL. Grateful to have options?

Janet – And yes. We sold our snowmobiles and bought golf carts to travel around in.

John – Until recently, Kathy had a home in Zionsville, Indiana, and one on Sanibel Island, Florida. Now she lives a few miles away in Fort Myers.

John – I love the concept of a golf cart. Not popular in The Meadow of Parker Lakes.

John – The virus is a real pain!!!!!

Janet – Agree. It’s changed most of everyone’s lifestyle. And it is rearing its ugly head, yet again.

John – Florida is the new epicenter.

Janet – So I hear. ?

John – We have faith.

Janet – We have to.

John – Amen.

Janet – Yes. Amen ❤️

John – An excellent place to stop for lunch! I’ve enjoyed this.

Janet – Likewise! Be safe. Stay well?

John – I’m fixing it. You too!

Jul 22, 2020, 6:08 AM

Janet,

The Family Tree I’m working on is quite robust because of the advantages computers give us. The Tree includes information on all branches of our family. Elcik, Lucas, and more.

Ultimately, the project requires review by the people that know the individuals best. Would you be willing to review what I have on your parents? The final documents are something that I think you will cherish. And I get the satisfaction of knowing that I got their life stories right. What do you think?

Share your email address, and I will snd you four documents. There are a LifeStory and a Fact document for each parent. ?
With an eMail address, I could also provide you access to the whole Tree as a guest, contributor, or editor. Let me know if you want to do either of these options or both.

Warmest regards, John

July 23, 2020, 9:43 AM

Janet – That sounds wonderful!! Thanks so much ❤️. My email is janw@maine.rr.com.

John – I will send you an invitation.

John – The email is sent, and Ancestry should send you one too. Theirs will give you login instructions.

John – 11 years ago, Keri Lucas contacted us about the Family Tree. That site doesn’t exist anymore. Do you think she would be interested in the new site? Do you talk with her?

Janet –  Hi John. I’m sure she would be interested. I’ll get in touch with her. She’s living in North Carolina now, but we occasionally text each other.

John – Great! I’m collaborating with Beth Gamache on getting my facts right, but I can never have too much interest. ?

Janet – Gotcha! ?

John – I hope your day is going well.

Janet – Fabulously! Suppose to get strong storms this afternoon. A very hot & dry summer so far. I hope your day is great as well!

John – It is. Working on training our puppy.

Janet – A puppy?!? What kind?

John – A Chihuahua and Terrier mix from the humane society. Her name is Lucy Belle. She is tan, and I think she is 100% terror.

John – Freudian slip, I meant to say Terrier

Janet – So a little pooch.

John – Yes. about 10 pounds and a bundle of energy

Janet – Will help keep you young ?.

John – Absolutely, Do you have pets(s)?

Janet – Yes. A cocker spaniel named Cooper. He’s 12.

John – Lovely. Small dogs live the longest. Our Holly and Daisey were with us for more than 15 years.

Janet – Good long lives. It’s tough losing a pet. We had another cocker that lived until 15. He was a love. Our current dog has been a handful. He’s just starting to be ok with other dogs—been kind of a brat.

John – Our Lucy has had a rocky start. We will do better for her and me.

Janet – I’ll be sending positive vibes ??!

John – Thanks!!!!

John – I need to go, but it is always a pleasure to visit.

Janet – Likewise!! Take care.

John – You too!

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Solving the Mystery


Wed 7/15/2020 8:53 PM

Jim & Jeff,

There are several pieces to a mystery that came together for the first time today.

The mystery, if you don’t remember, is to find the links between all three waves of the Elcik family immigrated to America in the 1800s. We all came from Austria/Hungry, and there is a commonality of surnames (Elsik, Elick, and Elcik) and given names (John and James). Yet, I could not find a link between us (our Grandfather and Great-Grandfather) and a third group that initially settled in Lisbon Falls along with us, but moved south to New York.

It turns out that there are two links to the 3rd family. Remember that there was no apparent link because the two John Elcik’s are ten years apart, so they can’t be father and son.

The first evidence of a family link is on a government registration card—John Paul Elcik’s Registration Card (Serial #2701, Order #A1580), to be exact. The card gives 16 MAR 1885 as the birthdate for an Austria-Hungary born individual working as a “stock washer” in the paper mill. Mary Helen Elcik is the nearest relative and an RR2 #2 Lisbon Falls address.

Mary Helen can only be Mary Helen Pelarsky [Percarsky], wife to John Elsik, Sr.

With this encouragement, I decided to start entering the unlinked New York Elcik’s into the Family Tree without a link. Perhaps, given enough data, the software could suggest the family connection.

SUCCESS! For the first time, Ancestry.com began suggesting relationships. Ancestry identified John P Elcik (NY) as the “father of 1st cousin 1x removed.” WONDERFUL NEWS!

I now did one better by continuing to follow the Ancestry hints. Next, I found out that the 1rst cousin 1x removed is George M. Elcik. That is not all. I know this name as George is my Aunt Gertrude’s cousin. It means that her cousin and she both married members of the Gamache family. She married Norman Gamache. And her cousin George married Hanna Gamache.

I think this explains why the software is recognizing family relationships as “once-removed.

Thus, I can now show that we are related to the third Elcik family. The link is the marriages of Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Norman. George M. Elcik was our missing link.

I still suspect that there is a European connection between the families, but proof of that will take more research.

Meanwhile, to identify the parents (probably in Europe) of my previously unlinked John P. Elcik and John Elcik, Sr. (my Great-Grandfather), I have reached out to the New York cousin’s help. I’ll keep you posted.

John, IV

[Auntie Gertrude and Uncle Norman’s marriage is not the missing link we thought as George is not a “blood relative” cousin. His common Elcik surname and living in Lisbon Falls, however, grant him that “informal” status with the families. Later, a family link will develop because George marries Anna Gamache, Uncle Norman’s sister. Thus, for the first time, a marital, not blood relationship, exists between the Ilsik and Elsik families. – John P. Elcik, IV, Editor]  

 

 

 

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Ancestry Invitation


Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7:44 PM

John (NY),

Here are the five documents I referenced in Messenger.

Each person comes to this type of research when they are ready. Don’t feel bad if this turns out not to be the right time.

Reading them in the order created is less likely to confuse. ?

Take your time. The invitation of Ancestory.com shouldn’t expire if you choose to wait till you have digested the letters.

If it does, I can always issue a new invitation.

Enjoy,

John, IV johnelcik@msn.com

My LinkedIn account gives background information on me without using the Family Tree data

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnelcik/

 

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A Closer Look at the Are We Related Mystery


Fri 7/17/2020 7:35 AM

John (NY),

Still another way of looking at the mystery of are we related, but this time with even more detail.

My Family Relations

  • John P. Elcik, V (1986) – My son, Science Teacher
  • John P. Elcik, IV (1952) – Me, Doctorate in Educational Administration, College Administrative Software Marketing
  • John P Elcik, III (1928) – My father had a career in the U.S. Navy and electronic communications.
  • John P Elick (Jr.) (1896-1963) – My Grandfather, Worked in the Pejepscot Paper Company and lived in Lisbon Falls, Maine.
  • John Elsik (Sr.) (1866-1941) – My Great Grandfather was born in (Parhovjani S, Czechoslovakia, Slovenia) and immigrated to America in 1891. Worked in a woolen mill and later a paper mill as a “pulp man.” For a time, he lived in Durham, Maine.

Your Family Relations

  • John Elcik (born?) – You, Education
  • John Elcik (born?) – Your Dad
  • John J. Elcik (1943-2018) – Your Grandfather
  • [1912-1917 year born?] – Your Great Grandfather
  • John P. Elcik (1886-1962) – Your presumptive Great-Great-Grandfather was born in (Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovakland) and immigrated to America in 1906. Worked in a paper mill and Lived in Durham, Maine.

There is ten years difference in age between my Great Grandfather and your Great-Great-Grandfather.

My Great Grandfather immigrated in 1891, and I believe your Great-Great-Grandfather immigrated in 1906, i.e., 15 years later.

What we want to find out is the relationship between my Great-Grandfather and your Great-Great-Grandfather. Because of their ages, I know it was not a parental one. I suspect they were cousins. What do you think? Do you have access to a family history that could help us?

My limited understanding of European economics and politics suggests that Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovakland, and Slovenia were all of the same general areas in Europe. Who ruled when determined what you called it.

John IV

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Exactly How Are We Related?


Fri 7/17/2020 9:57 AM

Good morning John,

Thank You. I got all your Emails. I am interested, for sure, in seeing exactly how we are related. I am at work, so I will have to look at everything more at home. However, one of the first things I did immediately notice is that my great grandfather also worked at the Pejepscot Paper Mill to supplement his income as a farmer. Before he came to NYC in 1932, my grandfather Andrew Elcik also worked briefly at the paper mill. I hope you are well and I will be in touch.

John Elcik (NY)