Category: Ilcik

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John Ilcik Obituary

Sun 9/20/2020 7:54 PM

John,

While you’ve been busy and focused on a special project, I’ve been in contact with another friend at the Historical Society. He has found an obituary for John Ilcik. I’ll forward the email to you.

I talked to a cousin of Jack’s who speaks Slovak and can interpret the meanings of the Slovak words on the gravestones. He also grew up in the neighborhood with some Karkos families.

I know you’re not on Ancestry but I am and will continue to do so. I’m trying to fill in some of the”holes” we have in the Elcik and Karkos family trees.

We’re moving on,

Beth

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Slovak Translations

Monday, September 21, 2020, 10:02 PM

John, IV,

I’m exchanging text messages with a cousin of Jack’s, Dan Gamache. He speaks Slovak and has interpreted some of the Slovak words on gravestones. He also knows a couple of people in the John Stephen Karkos photo. Joseph is the father of my good friend in high school, Pat Karkos. I knew him but didn’t recognize him in the picture because he was younger then. Also, two other men in the picture, Stephan and Andrew, were the fathers of two other Karkos families in Lisbon Falls. Stephan’s son was Steve Karkos, and I went to school with him, and Andrew’s son was Norm Karkos, and Jack went to school with him. Dan Gamache lived on the same street as all three Karkos families.

On the Ilcik gravestone, Rod is an abbreviation for born, Zom means died, Jeho Jenna means wife. Those words are on other gravestones as well. I always wondered what they meant, and now I know, and you do too.

Beth

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Beth Gamache’s Introduces John Elcik to Bill Cizmar

 
Mon 10/12/2020 12:15 PM
Bill,
 
Beth Gamache has been trying to introduce us and has just shared your email with me. She is married to my 1st Cousin Jack and is a co-author of an eBook we are writing about our collaboration on ancestry research.
 
I apologize if I missed it; I can’t find any evidence of a Facebook invitation from you. Could you have reached out to one of the other Facebook John Elcik’s? If so, it is just one more piece of evidence that the same name can create identification issues.  This is true in real life, as well as ancestry research. 🙂
  • My Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jelcik
  • John Elcik (my son J.P., V): https://www.facebook.com/john.p.elcik
  • John Elcik (Rocky Point, New York): https://www.facebook.com/john.elcik
I am reachable through Facebook (above) or email at johnelcik@msn.com.
 
Bill, I understand from Beth that we both share interests in Ancestry.  Better yet for me, Beth tells me you know a lot about Lisbon. Beth is so happy that you introduced her to the Historical Society 3 years ago.
 
Our brick wall has been to find a link between two Elcik families and/or “jump the pond” to Europe to locate the 6th generation of our Elcik family.
 
Also, I apologize that this email will be so long. It has allowed me to summarize where we are and clarify our goals.  
 

Background Information

 
John Elsik (1866-1941) married Mary Pelcarsky (1875-1936) through whom I (IV), Dad (III), and John (Jr.) descended. In the 1910 Census, John Elsik identified his surname as Elsik. Elcik is the spelling used for the rest of the family.  John immigrated in 1891 and Mary in 1896. Ancestry and I agree that John Elsik is my great-grandfather.
 
John Elcik (1886-1982) was married to Mary Jeho Zena Jonek (1887-1951). John immigrated in 1905, and Mary immigrated a year later in 1906. He came to America through Ellis Island, and the name was changed to Elcik from Ilcik, as told to his grandson. His son, Andrew J. Elcik (1911-1995), married Jeannie Pascarella through whom many of the “New York” Elcik’s descended. This family includes my “New York” contact: John Elcik.
 
A 1940 Census document for Joseph’s family (sons John J. and James G.) uses the “Elsik” spelling of the Ilcik’s surname. This s particularly significant to us.  This is the first instance I have found of John Elcik (New York) direct relatives using this spelling, which can also be traced back to my Great Grandfather John Elsik, Sr.
 
Thanks to Beth’s research, we know one connection between the New York Elcik’s and us. Their George Elcik (in the 1920 Census) married Jack’s father’s sister Anna Gamache. The is not a blood relationship, yet both my John Elcik (Rocky Point, NY) contact and I think there should be one.  We all come from Western Europe (Austria/Hungry/Slovakia), spoke Slovak, and have a Catholic heritage.
 

Our Goals

 
We all believe the two families are more directly related, if and when, we can “jump the pond” to Europe. I briefly subscribed to Ancestry World Discovery to locate European Ancestors. I also have been trying to find an immigration document.  
 
I am looking hard for a European location to reach out to other descendants of our forefathers. But Europe is a big continent, and I have reached the proverbial brick wall. Individual responses in Census reports on our European origins are nonspecific. How our ancestors identified is as follows:
  • Czech Republic (14)
  • Austria (13)
  • Austria-Hungary (4)
  • Hungary (4)
  • Slovakia (4)
  • Austria-Slovakia (3)
The responses may be due as much to economics and politics as to specific geography.
 
My father always said we came here from Czechoslovakia, but our immigration in the late 1800s came before its creation.
 
As for geographic locations, I have found one reference to Parhovjani S, Czechoslovakia. Unfortunately, I don’t think it exists anymore.  And the literal translations are “parking lot.” Lol.
 
Based on the spelling of Elcik as Elsik in the 1910 Federal Census, I believe the surname spelling to research is Elsik. Or perhaps, Ilcik, if the Durham Elcik’s are relatives.
 
Beth tells me that you might know ways of researching documents, etc. that we don’t.
 
Any tips you have would be very welcome.  In addition to searching for immigration documents, I think a DNA test might help break the brick wall.  
 
It is a pleasure to meet another ancestry enthusiast.  I would like it very much if we can become friends as well.
 
Warmest regards,
 
John
 
Dr. John P. Elcik, IV
15117 Cloverdale Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33919
(561) 543-3626 (my wife Pam’s cell phone)
johnelcik@msn.com
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Are John and Joseph Elcik Brothers?

Tue 10/13/2020 3:04 PM
Bill,
The attached story “Are John and Joseph Elcik Brothers?” and supporting documentation may be of interest.  It is a more detailed examination of the significance of using the Elcik vs. Elsik surname in further research.
Also, keep in mind that the Ilcik surname is also in play if there is a family connection between the Lisbon Falls and Durham Elcik’s. The encouraging note here is that at least one Durham family has used the Elsik surname.
Regards,
John, IV
10/21/2020 Are John and Joseph Elsik Brothers?

The Story:

I think I have proof that John Elcik (Elsik), Sr., my great-grandfather, had a younger brother Joseph.
John Elsik (1866-1941) was married to Mary Pelcarsky (1875-1936). John immigrated to America in 1891, and Mary immigrated in 1896. They had 7 children: John Jr (1896), Michael Joseph (1897), Mary Anna (1899), Andrew (1902), Annie (1905), Elizabeth (1905), and Susan M. (1910). Joseph Elcik (1871-1938) was married to Elizabeth Balnick (1871-1934). Joseph followed ten years later in 1901 at the age of 30. They had 3 children: Annie (1902), Lizzie (1905), and Mary (1908).
If so, this answers the question I put on the research agenda about the possibility of siblings. There was at least one.
My evidence is in the 1910 United States Federal Census:
  • The two men (Heads of Households) are just three years apart in age. John is 42 and Joseph 39.
  • Both immigrated from Austria.
  • Both settled in Durham, Androscoggin, Maine.
  • But the clincher for me is that both men spell our surname “Elsik” for themselves while spelling their children’s names “Elcik.” This can’t be a coincidence.

10 years are separating their immigration to America. John immigrated in 1891 at the age of 23 and Joseph in 1901 at the age of 30. All seven of John’s and all three of Joseph’s children were born in Androscoggin County, Maine.
Both men used the same given names for their three daughters. They must have had middle names or nicknames as they surely played together. The population of Androscoggin County in 1910 was 59,822 (26,247 in Lewiston, 4,116 in Lisbon, and 1,625 in Durham) John, IV

P.S. It has been almost six weeks since this was posted. Today, I found this item on a genealogy site, which bolsters my argument that John and Joseph were brothers. John Paul Elcik, IV – Editor
“In other cases, brothers who lived near each other would sometimes give their children the same first names. The cousins might have gone by nicknames or middle names to avoid confusion during their lifetimes. It becomes more di

“In other cases, brothers who lived near each other would sometimes give their children the same first names. The cousins might have gone by nicknames or middle names to avoid confusion during their lifetimes. It becomes more difficult 100 years later for a genealogist looking to match the right people to the right spots on a family tree.”

 

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Re: Eugene Elcik, Novelist with a Maine flavor!

Sat 10/17/2020 5:52 PM

Gene,

It is a pleasure to hear from you. Not only are you not the only Elcik remaining in this world; we are thriving under different but related surnames: Elcik, Elick, Elsik, and Ilcik.  I’ve attached a document I wrote called, “Why we Spell Our Surname Elcik ” which I hope you will enjoy. 

The other two documents are summaries of our research. 
 
Thank you for your historical updates.  Your explanation of the Czech Republic makes me marginally feel better about my own failure to locate details about the Elcik family in Europe.  I’m still trying. ?
 
Warmest regards,
 
John, IV
 
P.S. You guested right; my degree is an Ed.D. for Higher Education Administration.  My career was as a marketing executive for companies selling administrative software for the operation of colleges and universities. 
 
P.P.S. I hear you are writing another book. Keep on WRITING. 
 
Are John and Joseph Elsik Brothers.pdf
Summary of Research.pdf
Why We Spell Our Surname as Elcik.pdf
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The Pelcarsky Puzzle

 
Sun 10/18/2020 11:23 PM
 

The Pelcarsky Puzzle

 
We theorize that Mary and Maria are probably different people; however, Marie’s records have become intertwined with Mary’s on some public family trees. We suspect the women could be sisters born 5 years apart in 1870 and 1875, respectively.
 

They Are Not Sisters 

 
Our sister’s theory was wrong as both birth years apply only to Mary Pelcarsky.  The abt 1875 birthdate in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census was an estimate.  Her actual birthdate is 6 NOV 1870.
 

There Are Two Different Women

 
We were correct that there are two different women. Mary was born in 1870, and Maria Anna was born in 1927:
 
Mary (Pelcarsky) Elsik was born on 6 NOV 1870 in Austria (or Czechoslovakia). She married John Elsik, Sr. (1866), and they have three sons: John, Jr, Mike, and Andrew; three daughters: Mary, Annie, and Lizzie.  The source is the 1910 U.S. Census. She died 23 AUG 1936. This is my great grandparents and family.
 
Maria Anna Pelcarsky was born in 1927 as calculated from the Ohio Death Index; she died on 12 OCT 1983 according to the same Index;  Maria Pelcarsky married Paul Ilcik. They have a daughter Annie Ilcik. The source is the 19 JUN 1911 Marriage record of Annie Ilcik to Andrew Basala. Paul and Annie are what you and I are calling Durham Elcik’s.
 

The History Behind 4 Pelcarsky Marriages

 
Mary Pelcarsky (1870) married John Elcik, Sr. (1866). They both were born in Austria. They have three sons: John, Jr, Mike, and Andrew; three daughters: Mary, Annie, and Lizzie. This is my great grandfather and family. The source is the 1910 U.S. Census.  
 
Maria Pelcarsky married Paul Ilcik, and they have a daughter Annie Ilcik. The source is the 19 JUN 1911 Marriage record of Annie Ilcik to Andrew Basala.
 
Anna “Annie” Pelcarsky (1848) married Joseph Paul Karkos (1867). She was born in Austria, and her parents were born in Slavonia. The source is the 11 APR 1921 marriage of Joseph Thomas Karkos and Mildred Aris Alexander. Other sources include the 1900 and 1920 U.S. Census.  There could be two relationships between the Pelcarsky and Karkos families. A second relationship is Annie Elcik (daughter of Mary Pelcarsky) marriage to George F. Karkos on 9 FEB 1925.
 
Mary Pelcarsky (1879) married Joseph Pelcarsky (1874). Both were born in Czechoslovakia. They have two sons: Joe and Edward; three daughters: Ann, Martha, and Rose. The source is the 1940 U.S. Census. There is no known relationship between Mary and the other three. I believe them to be unrelated to us. 
 

The Preferred Spelling is Pelcarsky

  • Pelcarsky – Mothers’s maiden name, according to Annie Elcik, wife of George F. Karkos.
  • Pelcarsky – Mother’s maiden name on 19 JUN 1911 Marriage record of Annie Ilcik to Andrew Basala.

6 Alternative Spellings

The maiden name for Mary Pelcarsky is different on the following records:

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

Also, there is Mary Pelchaleky (Marie Pelcarsky) married to Paul Elcik, Sr., Maine Vital Records

Postscript

 
Yes, this one baffled me for a long time.
 
John, IV
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How Many Elcik’s Are a Lot?

 

Thu 10/22/2020 1:17 PM

Beth & Eugene,

I’m beginning to question if DNA will help break the wall between our European ancestors and us.

Beth, I told Eugene that there are a lot of us, Elcik’s. I may have been optimistic, however. At the time, I perceived there was a lot based on Google searches. But what number constitutes “a lot”?

I have found a website (forebears.io) that provides a fascinating picture of the distribution of the Family surname by country.  Keep in mind that there are at least 3 viable spellings of the Elcik surname to research.  And then there is Turkey, where Elcik may be pronounced differently.  It also had a specific meaning, i.e., it translates as “zipper.”

The following four links are of interest.

  • Slovakia (14), Czechia (1), ElÄŤĂ­k Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History: Elcik
  • U.S. (240), Hungary (120), Austria (14), Elsik Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History: Elsik
  • Czechia (192), Slovakia (155), IlÄŤĂ­k Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History: Ilcik
  • Turkey (1,274), Elçik Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History: Elcik

I question whether DNA databanks will have many or any of our European ancestors in them with these numbers.  Add this to Eugene’s finding that the Nazi party destroyed most of Europe’s records, and our prospects are slim. He is right. The church kept records of birth, baptism, marriage, and death. Without their records, DNA, I thought, would be the ideal choice. Ouch!

A DNA test may not help us find European “cousins.” If, however, I can get one of the descendants of John Ilick to take the test with me, other information is possible. A secondary goal of my research has always been to see if we can connect the Ilcik and Elsik families.

  • John Elsik (1866-1941) is the preferred spelling of my Great-grandfather.
  • John Ilsik (1886-1962) is the preferred spelling of John Elcik’s (Rocky Point, NY) Great-grandfather.

A Y-111 test is the best DNA test to consider. It is designed specifically to confirm Y-chromosome matching between two living men. It is $250 each, i.e., more expensive than other DNA tests, so there may not be mutual interest in taking the test. I didn’t agree to it in 2009 when Judy (my friend and DNA expert) asked me to do it.  My mistake! I will reach out to Brian, John, Robert, and Stephen on Ancestry.com’s new messenger service to see who might be interested in he is interested.  But no social pressure. Lol.

Either way, I intend to take the $99 autosomal DNA test from Ancestry.com at the end of the year when it goes on sale for 40% off. Judy, my friend with Polish ancestors, is hoping it will establish a stronger family link between her and us. She no longer has access to male DNA for testing. Her initial DNA sample came from her deceased father’s hearing aids.  It suggested a link, but a more expensive test was recommended, and I wasn’t ready.  So, this is our best chance for her and me. This is the only DNA test that Ancestry.com supports for use with its Family Tree website.

I hope this will generate some interest. Here is to hope!

Regards,

John, IV