Thu 8/6/2020 9:36 PM
Rebecca wrote:
“I think my mom has a copy of the oldest known family, but I don’t recall her pointing out the twins Annie and Lizzie. I don’t think I have ever heard any mention of them before; maybe I’m incorrect. I’ll have to quiz my mother when I talk to her this weekend.”
My response:
Beth knows Annie. Anyway, Annie was married to Terry Karkos, a well-known Maine Genealogy expert specializing in Slovak ancestry.
John, IV
Fri 8/7/2020 11:16 AM
Everyone,
The Elcik’s in our Family tree can be said to originate from Western Europe. Their responses in Census reports, etc. may be due as much to economics and politics as to specific geography. How they identified is as follows: Czech Republic (14), Austria (13), Austria-Hungary (4), Hungary (4), Slovakia (4), and Austria-Slovakia (3).
My father always said we came here from Czechoslovakia even though our immigration came before its creation.
“The creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 was the culmination of the long struggle of the Czechs against their Austrian rulers and of the Slovaks against Hungarisation and their Hungarian rulers.”
My question: Is it Czech or Slovak? I know they spoke Slovak. ?
Someday I hope to have enough information for at least an online search of European ancestors. That journey needs a hint or two to begin. Can any of us suggest a town to investigate?
Based on the spelling of Elcik as Elsik in the 1910 Federal Census, I believe the surname spelling to research is Elsik.
Suggestions? Anyone?
John, IV
Fri, Aug 7, 2020, at 12:17 PM
Cousins, etc.,
Is there is a relation that connects the waves of Elcik (Elick, Elsik) families that immigrated to America in the 1880s? I can connect two as being us. We share a common heritage (Austria/Hungary/Slovakia), surname, and given names; specifically, John and James. We all settled initially in Lisbon Falls or Durham, Maine. Those that eventually went on to New York are part of the group I’m researching to see if a link exists.
I can’t yet place the following family:
John Ilcik (Slovakia) (1886-1962); There is only a 10-year age difference between this individual and my Grandfather. I think families are related, but I don’t have evidence. I suspect the link exists in Europe.
I would dismiss this as an Ellis Island spelling mistake except for New York John, and I see a family resemblance in some photos. We may decide to take DNA tests as…
Curiosity killed the cat satisfaction brought it back. 🙂
Any thoughts?
John, IV
P.S. And then there is another John Elcik (22 DEC 1931- 14 APR 2019) that I can’t place anywhere. Beth, it is these facts that could drive me crazy. 🙂 Have I mentioned that there are other ways to spell John? Johann, Jan. Am I crazy?
Sat 8/8/2020 6:22 AM
Beth,
What follows is a composite email that tells the family story of John Elcik from New York. There is also this link to the obituary of John’s grandfather.
This text is a link to the obituary of John’s grandfather.
John Elcik Obituary – Miller Place, NY – Dignity Memorial
Visitation. Monday, September 17, 2018. Mass of Christian Burial. Tuesday, September 18, 2018. Committal Service. Tuesday, September 18, 2018
www.dignitymemorial.com
Enjoy!
John. IV
————————————
Hi John,
I can see we share the same name. My dad’s name was John Elcik Sr. He recently died in September, and his brother’s name is Andrew Elcik! My grandfather was Andrew Elcik, and he was from Lisbon Falls, Maine; born in 1911, he eventually settled in Queens, New York, and then my father came out to Long Island, where I live now!
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. I also believe 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.
My grandfather Andrew Elcik was born here in Lisbon Falls, Maine, in 1911 (died 1995 on Long Island), and it was my great grandfather John Ilcik who came here thru Ellis Island in the early 1900s (don’t have an exact date but early 1900’s). All they know is it was spelled Ilcik in Europe (Austria Hungarian empire what is now the Czech Republic ). It was changed by mistake at Ellis Island when they just put it down wrong ( not on Purpose ).
I was always told we were Slovak and Not Czech, and my grandfather Andrew and Great grandfather spoke the language.
As I shared with you on Facebook, my father is John Elcik, born in 1943 in Queens, NY, and died in 2018, and you have the correct year of 1962, when I believe my great grandfather died. If you did not see it on Facebook, my grandfather Andrew Elcik came to NYC in approx. Between 1929 – 1932 because he could not find work at the paper mill anymore due to the great depression. He ended up working for Bryers Ice cream for 40 years. He married Jeannie Pascarella around 1939 and had two sons Andrew Elcik born in 1941, and my dad John Elcik born in 1943.
My uncle is still alive but hazy about the family’s past. I wish my dad John Elcik was alive because he could help solve this mystery. My uncle Andrew Elcik had three children: Christine, born 1965, Andrew born 1967, and Jaqueline, born 1970 or 71.
We have pictures of my great grandparents and grandfather from Lisbon Falls, which I Will eventually scan to you. We will eventually figure out the direct link. More to come.
In the picture with my grandfather Andrew Elcik, to the right is my grandmother Jeannie Elcik ( Born Pascarella ) and my dad John Elcik and my uncle Andrew Elcik to the left. My uncle Andrew is still alive. Everyone else in the picture is deceased.
I know it is his grave because this info provided below is true: He was born in Czechoslovakia, the son of Paul and Mary Elcik. His wife is the former Mary Jonek, whom he married in 1905. He came to the United States 58 years ago. He is predeceased by his wife, Mary, who died in 1951. [Editor’s note: This is where some of the confusion got started. Mary Jonek and Mary Pelcarsky were two different individuals. I highlighted this in red on your copy of the family tree]
He is survived by four sons Joseph of Brooklyn, NY; George of Lisbon Falls, ME; Andrew of Corona, NY; Michael of Miami, FL; a daughter Mrs. Mary King of Westville, NH; a brother Paul of Lisbon Falls, ME. He is my great grandfather.
Sun 8/9/2020 3:08 PM
Family,
I have put together this summary of the ancestry research findings:
I know it was two not three waves of Elcik immigration to Maine.
I now know for sure that there is a connection between the New York Elcik’s and us. [Thank you, Beth.] Their George Elcik (in the 1920 Census) married Jack’s father’s sister Anna Gamache. The John Elcik, who I have corresponded with via Facebook and email, is related to me as “grand-nephew of husband of sister-in-law of aunt.” A real tongue twister.
I still believe the two families are more directly related, if and when we can “jump the pond” to Europe. We all come from Western Europe (Austria/Hungry/Slovakia), spoke Slovak, and have a Catholic heritage.
The three Elcik brothers (John, Jim, and Jeff) are the fourth generation in America and directly descended from the first 1891/1896 wave.
I now know the spelling history of the surname from Elsik, Elcik, Elick, and back to Elcik. There are also apparent misspellings: Elcih.
I know that there are different spellings of Pelcarsky. Pelcarsky is the spelling as recalled by George Karkos, who was married to Annie, one of Mary’s daughters. Pelcarsky spelled as Pelesaky (on Michael’s Record of Marriage), or Pelchascay (on John’s Record of Marriage) to mention two.
John Elcik, Jr. (my grandfather) was married a second time to Helen Mosko. This marriage was not revealed to me (even when I asked my father) for reasons I may never know. A “mystery” letter from Aunt Gertrude, located by Jeff, addressed to “kids” that references Helen’s immigration status and the waiting for checks.
I now have some priceless photos and letters to add to our family tree:
I found evidence that John Elsik (my great-grandfather) had a brother Joseph. The Elsik spelling of the surname is just one of several links I found. Also, Beth sent me a photo of Joseph’s gravestone, which was helpful.
I now believe that the reason I never knew of or met my Aunt Mary is that she moved to Corpus Cristi, Texas. Jeff suggests this possibility.
In addition to the New York Elcik’s (Ilcik), there are Texas Elcik’s (Elsik) to be researched. There is even a high school in Huston, Texas named after an Elsik.
My thanks to everyone who has helped with this update of the 2008 “My Cousins” tree.
But a special thank you to Beth. She has enthusiastically shared in my craziness for several weeks now.
All my love,
John, IV
P.S. Guest privileges will continue forever at Ancestry.com for all who are interested. If you need the invite for the family tree to be resent or want to gain access for someone else, let me know. My World Explorer subscription to Ancestry.com is expiring, so Internet updates will be less frequent as I first record them locally with Family Tree Maker.
P.P.S. Nancy is putting together additional items for me. And if anyone else has more to offer, well, I will be grateful.
Tue 8/11/2020 9:01 PM
John,
The information I gave you about Jane Plourde wasn’t correct. She DIDN’T drown in the Androscoggin River. She drowned in a pond near her house in Lisbon. I always thought it was the Androscoggin, but Jack corrected me. My bad.
Jack also remembers going to Durham with his father and Bob Elcik’s father, George, to Bob’s grandfather’s house, John Elcik. That’s where they learned to smoke kielbasa from Bob’s grandfather. They would do that so they could have Kielbasa for Christmas. It was a Slovak tradition.
I have yet to record Jack’s family on Ancestry. I have all the information I need, need. I also need to “fix” all my Purinton, Goddard, Day mistakes. I had day surgery last Friday and have been a little “under the weather” since then. I’m feeling better and will “get back at it” in a few days.
I’m still thinking, as I believe you are too, there’s a connection between the two Elcik families. Maybe grand or great grandfathers were brothers??? The problem is, we can’t find any records stating that. Some day, just maybe someday, we will. To be continued.
Beth
08-14-2020 AM 11:43 AM
Joseph,
If you are interested I can share with you some of the more interesting aspects of my research into our Elcik surname.
I’ve been researching connections between two waves of immigrants in the 1880’s. The families share a common heritage (Austria/Hungary/Slovakia), surname, and given names; specifically Andrew, George, James, John, Joseph, and Michael. We all settled initially in Lisbon Falls or Durham, Maine.
It may not be possible to link the families with U.S. data alone so I have expanded my search to European sources. Information is scarce and I’m handicapped not knowing the Slovak language. Nevertheless, I have discovered a lot and am willing to share my findings.
Warmest regards,
John
