Category: Photos

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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]

 

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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.
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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
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Re: Status Updates

Fri 12/4/2020 1:19 PM

Beth,
 
First, I hope you and Jack are doing well and preparing to enjoy the holidays.  We are doing that here. In fact, my delay in responding to your email results from the holiday’s “honey-do this” list. Lol.
 
Thank you very much for being willing to follow-up on the possibility of John, Sr. being buried in St. Cyril’s.   
 
Mostly we agree on the contents of your message (see below), but I am underlining text where I think you may need to make changes in the tree.
 
To clarify the discussion about Michael Joseph Elcik (1897–1980). My records show BIRTH 16 JUL 1897 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin, Maine, USA; DEATH 22 JUN 1980 • Toms River, Ocean, New Jersey, USA. He is my great-uncle.
 
I agree with you that Paul Joseph Elcik Sr. (1896–1970) BIRTH 15 FEB 1896 • Czechoslovakia; DEATH 23 DEC 1970 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin, Maine, USA husband of great-aunt is married to Mary A Fabian (1891–1978) BIRTH 8 OCT 1891 • the Czech Republic; DEATH 23 NOV 1978 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin County, Maine, USA. Mary A. Fabian is my great-aunt.  Thankfully, this is “set in stone” (Lol) as per your photo of the gravesite.
 
Maria Pelcarsky, who is presenting a mystery for us, was married to a different Paul Elcik (an Ilcik Elcik). At least, that is my working theory.  It is unsubstantiated as I don’t have supporting dates of birth or the marriage. This collaborates with your feeling that we are talking about different families. We are—the all too familiar Elsik vs. Ilcik conundrum.
 
I also agree that Paul J. Elcik, Jr. (1915-1992 married Gertrude Fournier.  We agree that Gertrude was born in 1918., but your date of death is presumably a mistake (typo?).  According to the US Social Security Death Index, Gertrude Fournier died on 19 JAN 1983 (not 1993).
 
I agree that Mary A. Elcik (1917-2008) married Josepf Kinney (1909-1989). Sandra D. Eck was born June 12, 1942, in Lewiston, a daughter [Not a sister] of the late Joseph A. & Mary A. (Elcik) Kinney. A lifelong resident of Lisbon Falls, she attended local area schools and graduated from Lisbon High School.  I got this from the obituary.
 
Again, thanks for everything you do!
 
John, IV
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Photos Can Wait

Thu 12/17/2020 10:48 PM

Dare I say it? Yes, I miss the snow, the light and fluffy kind in Maine, not Ohio’s ice and slush. There is a true story or a myth that says we benefit psychologically from four seasons.  Maine has five; it is blessed with a rainy season.  Does this make you healthier than the rest of us? Perhaps. But then I think of how sore my back used to get when shoveling snow. Sanity returns, and I forget the snow.   

I agree that photos need to wait. However, I’m putting together a list and checking it twice. If I and everyone are not naughty but nice, I will encourage you to volunteer with FindAGrave. Currently, there are more than a dozen requests for photos at Hillside Cemetery.  Did you notice that 3 of the 41 graves in my Virtual Cemetery need the Beth touch? ?

Have fun! Take Jack to a movie and buy popcorn.

John, IV

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The Ancestry.com Project

 
Tue 11/17/2020 6:05 PM
 
Jeff,
 
I’m almost ready to publish on a flash drive the “MyCousins” Family Tree with a companion eBook and supporting documents, images, and photos.  You and each of your boys will get a copy as a gift from Pam and me.
 
Before I send out copies of the drive, I wonder if you have time to assemble and ship the documents and photos you wanted to share.  There should be time for me to curate them before I go to press if you can do this soon.  This reminds me of one of my favorite poems.
 
Patience is a virtue,
catch it if you can.
Seldom in a woman,
never in a man.
 
Lol…
 
Also, FYI, I asked the Del Moral, Duryea, Flickinger, Grap, McClanahan, and Portell families to provide me with data on their parents, i.e., 1 generation so that I could use my 3-month subscription to US Discovery on their Surnames. I have data on Susie (expert researcher that I am).  
 
I hope all is going especially well for you, Harry, Max, and Sam.  You are all included in my prayers.
 
Love,
 
John, IV