Category: – Dr. John Elcik, IV

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Re: Rebecca Kashmer Davis

Tue, Mar 16, 2021, at 7:07 PM

Becky,

I am “over the moon” happy with your contribution.  It is exciting to get this and get it in time to include in the eBook. This is an important undertaking you did for us, and I shower you with accolades for doing it.
I am laughing out loud (Lol, the acronym not long enough) as I read the introduction to the book.  “Discouragement and unanswered letters,” being the result of efforts to write the book, sounds all too familiar. As I write in the eBook, I have been Ol’ Lonely, the Maytag repairman, or Rodney Dangerfield, the comedian who gets no respect.
I also am laughing that it took a subscription to finance the publication of the book. Thankfully, technology has changed, and we don’t have any fees to collect.
Again, I love what you submitted. Thank you!
I hope when you are ready to tackle the Kasmer surname that you allow me to help.  Beth has trained me, so I have experience.

I’m copying Beth on this so she sees what you sent. I doubt she will see it tonight. Beth is watching Jack play pool. Lol.

John, IV
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Re: Pete Lucas

Sat 1/9/2021 11:51 PM

Beth,

Sad news indeed. I also have heard from Cheryl Health and Janet Welsh.  I heard from both despite my Facebook account being suspended and then reactivated. Not sure how either happened.

Tomorrow, Pam and I will figure out some way to express our heartfelt condolences to all.
May Pete rest in peace as I know he was suffering in this world.
John, IV
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DNA Tests Status Report

Sun 1/10/2021 1:20 PM
Beth,
I’m still reviewing DNA results.  First, some statistics:
There were:
  • 27,890 matches
  • 25,890 distant matches
  • 1,999 close matches (4th cousin or closer
More significantly, my Ancestry.com test found 47 matches where I share a “common ancestor.”   This standard menu option filters DNA tests for those that link the DNA test with their family tree.
Did you notice when you filter by Common Ancestor that in the 3rd column, there is a HINT leaf next to the words Common Ancestor? The leaf icon is below the family tree icon that identifies the number of people in the selected individual’s tree.  Clicking on the icon has provided the extra help that I needed to identify more individuals.  It isn’t always easy as privacy still protects living people.
Also, it would be helpful if you would link Jack’s DNA to your tree. Even better yet, I would love for you to connect your DNA to your tree.  The latter might allow us to discover the additional theoretical link between Purrington’s in the Skillin family tree and Purinton’s in your family tree.
Yesterday, I received the results from a second DNA test I took with MyHeritage.  My ethnicity results are different enough that I need to do more research to understand them.
  • Europe: Irish, Scottish, and Welsh, 40.9%
  • East European, 30.0%
  • Balkan, 17.9%
  • Ashkenazi Jewish, 8.0%
  • Iberian, 3.2%

GENETIC GROUPS

  • French Canadians in Canada (Quebec) and the USA (Maine)
  • French settlers in Canada (Quebec) and the USA (New England)
  • USA (New England) and Eastern Canada

The increase in Irish, Scottish, and Welsh percentage is surprising.  Also, mentioning French Canadians for the second time is a surprise. I need to compare these results with my brother Jeff’s 23andMe test.

MyHeritage came up with 4,625 DNA Matches.  Only one close match and two extended family matches. I have yet to compare this with Ancestries results, but I will.

CLOSE MATCHES
EXTENDED FAMILY

My preliminary conclusion is that the Ancestry test is proving more straightforward to use and likely will be more useful. It will be interesting to see if I still feel this way after a couple of weeks of analyzing the results.

John, IV

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MyHeritage Message

Sun 1/17/2021 3:38 AM
Beth,
I sent the following to Earl using MyHeritage messenger.
John, IV
—————–

Earl,

This is Beth’s friend John Elcik, IV.
First, thank you very much for all the help you have given Beth Gamache and me. You are a rockstar when it comes to genealogy. Wow!
I was both surprised and pleased to see that MyHeritage says we have a DNA connection on top of everything.  We both have individuals with Ames, Hudon, Kinney, Libby, Williams, and Ward surnames in our trees. I, however, have yet to find the individuals connecting us on our family trees. I’ll keep on trying. Someday, all will be revealed.

Also, if you ever want access to the MyCousins Family tree, please ask. It would be a pleasure to share.

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Elcik Humor

Definition of “Smart Aleck”

On Wed, Jan 27, 2021, at 11:40 PM

Beth,

Given all the alternative spelling for the Elcik surname has given me cause for concern. People might think that the term “smart aleck” is a reference to my family or me. Ouch!

Let me assure you it is not.

The term ”smart-alec” came from Alec Hoag’s exploits, a celebrated con man in New York in the 1840s. He and his wife Melinda and an accomplice known as French Jack operated a con called the Panel Game, a method by which prostitutes and their pimps robbed customers.

I’m not sure which is worse, being a person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything or knowing the origins of the term.

John, IV

“Smart Aleck – Yes or No?”

Thursday, January 28, 2021, 8:28 AM

John,

You are neither irritating nor a smart alec.  I know you are simply driven to find the answers to your questions and the “real truth.”   Considering the odds we’re both up against, that isn’t easy to do.  You have the ways and the means to accomplish that much more than I do.  I would have given up long ago without your help and the Fantastic Four!!!

I still can’t believe Pam’s garage and the task to sort through everything.  It’s snowing in Maine and is the second day to do so.  If you need an explanation of the word “snow,” ask google, she’s a “smart alec” and can sometimes be irritating!!!!  I DO love her, though!!

Beth

Who Is Sirsi?

Thu 1/28/2021 11:10 AM

Beth,

Thanks!

Your encouragement, participation, and support have been what keeps me involved and focused. Your talent for engaging others is evident in the others you have brought into our crazy world. It is fun. You have made it so.

I, too, love Google. She is only responsive to the questions I ask.  I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Apple’s Siri, who eavesdrops on conversations and occasionally spontaneously speaks up.

I googled Siri; and Her name is Susan Bennett, and she lives in suburban Atlanta. Susan Alice Bennett (nee Cameron, born July 31, 1949) is an American voice-over artist and a former backup singer for Roy Orbison and Burt Bacharach.  Apple won’t confirm it. But Bennett says she is Siri. Professionals who know her voice, have worked with her, and represent her legally say she is Siri.

John, IV

“Siri (/ ˈ s ɪr i / SIRR-ee) is a virtual assistant that is part of Apple Inc.’s operating systems. The assistant uses voice queries, gesture-based control, focus-tracking, and a natural-language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Internet services.”