Category: The Contributors

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Re: Ouch!

Tue 1/19/2021 11:49 AM
John,

 
The blue box at the right doesn’t bother me as much as it does you.  I guess it just takes getting used to.  I hope it doesn’t discourage you from staying on Ancestry.
 
I have lots to tell you; #1 is John Paul Sr., and Joseph were brothers.  They also had 3 sisters, Elizabeth A Frank, Marie E Dereche and Anna Evanisko.  I have the obits for Joseph, Elizabeth, and Marie.  Elizabeth’s husband’s name was Melnot M Frank, Marie’s husband’s name was Joseph Dereche, and Anna’s husband’s name was George Evanisko.  
 
Earl found all their obits except for Anna.  Her first name is on a headstone at St Cyril, but she isn’t buried with him because there’s no date for her death.  At this point, we don’t know where she’s buried.
 
I don’t think I forwarded the obits to you.  I’ll do that now; if I already sent them, forgive me, but it’s better to have 2 than none.
 
Beth
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Re: Ouch!

Tue 1/19/2021 12:26 PM
Beth,
First, you and Earl are incredible. Sisters! Wow, that is a super scoop.  I am excited to read the obituaries. This is way beyond what I thought was possible.
Jumping for joy!
As for the blue box… this is what I submitted to Ancestry’s suggestion box (I finally found it.)
To: Ancestry.com

I don’t particularly appreciate that a blue popup box now shows up on the screen’s right side when you click on a hint.

First, it causes the screen to make an unnecessary jump when it creates the box on the right site. This is distracting.
Second, the size of the box and the size of the type are both too small. Users with vision issues, like myself, find it difficult to use.
Third, the new process results in extra keystrokes, which is inconvenient.
Fourth, left-handed people find using the right side of the screen to be less than ideal. One’s natural head movement is a gradual left-to-right. This forces one into a back-and-forth head movement that is just as distracting as the screen jump that occurs when the box is drawn on the screen.
It was significantly easier to document HINTS when data was in the center and not moved to the right. The text was large and easy to read.
The new process is distracting, difficult to use, and inconveniently slow. Ouch!
Please rollback this unwelcome change to a product that was working better before the changes.
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
Dr. John P. Elcik
Software Developer
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Ancestry.com DNA Features

Tue 1/19/2021 5:57 AM

Beth,

I have discovered three interesting features on the Ancestry.com website under the DNA menu.
  1. Have you explored the ThruLines™ feature?  It creates what I would call a Surname Chart using photos if they are in your records. Better yet, click on an individual.  If there are DNA suggestions for that individual, you will see them on your Family Tree. Very cool feature!
  2. StoryScout has an awkward interface, but it produces some entertaining results. Please take a look at the stories it wrote for my grandparents.
  3. The Personal Discoveries Project is Free to use. They ask you to talk about yourself and your family through survey questions. They’re fun and easy to answer. They hope the questions will bring you a deeper understanding of yourself and your DNA family connections.
Curiosity killed the cat, and satisfaction brought it back.
John, IV
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George Evanisko

Thu 1/21/2021 1:52 PM
Beth,
I know Earl is looking for Anna Elcik’s obituary for us.  However, I did find her husband after Eral was kind enough to remind me of his name.
Will you please share. Thanks in advance.
John, IV
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Correction?

Thu 1/21/2021 2:03 PM

 

Beth,

I wanted to copy Earl and Charlie on this, but I don’t have their email addresses.  Could you add them to the conversation? Please and thank you.
Charlie Hall reached out to me on Ancestry Messenger, reminding me of his association with you and Earl. Seeking to be helpful, he offered, “It looks like two Elcik brothers came to Durham, John and Joseph. On the page, you list them as siblings; you have Joseph’s daughters as siblings, also.”
After going back to the source document, I think Charlie is right. The obituary for Joseph P. Elcik [Sr.] upon which we relied does say the girls were John and Joseph’s sisters. But in seeking confirmation, the first two men identified as spouses belong to Joseph’s daughters.
Joseph Elcik’s daughters are:
  • Elizabeth A. Elcik, married to Melnot M. Frank
  • Marie E. Elcik, married to Joseph Dereche
And Mrs. George Evanisko, the third reference, while first identified as a sister, is later in the Obituary referenced accurately as his daughter:
  • Anna Elcik (Mrs.) Evanisko
I was so excited by the assertion I forgot to verify.
If you agree, I believe we need to reconsider our conclusion that there were five siblings.  Instead, there are just the two brothers.
What do you think?
John, IV

PS: I wanted to copy Earl and Charlie on this, but I don’t have their email addresses.  Could you add them to the conversation? Please and thank you.