In 2007, I wrote a letter to my father asking whether my great-grandfather, John Elsik, had a brother named Joseph. I asked him to review the 1910 census, where two Elcik families appear—one headed by John Elsik (Elcik), who immigrated in 1891, and another by Joseph Elsik (Elcik), who immigrated in 1901.
The 1891 record aligns neatly with the family photograph we have. The Joseph Elsik record, however, raised questions. There were similarities in names, but differences in birth years and arrival dates that were not immediately easy to reconcile.
Families in the late 1800s were often much larger than they are today, which complicates modern research. Adding to the challenge were similarities in how the two men answered census questions. Both men recorded their surname as “Elsik,” while other family members used the spelling “Elcik.”
Other similarities were striking. Both men reported immigrating from “Austria,” spoke Slovak, and practiced Catholicism. Even more compelling, they settled in the same small town in Androscoggin County, Maine, and both worked as washers in the local paper mill.
Another unlikely coincidence was that both men gave their three daughters the same names. One genealogist explains this practice:
“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.”
That John and Joseph did not immigrate together may be explained by their ages. John arrived in America at age 25. Joseph would have been only 20 at the time. He may have been considered too young, or perhaps the family still needed him at home. Joseph eventually immigrated ten years later, at age 30.
Historians note that Czech and Slovak immigrants were prolific letter writers. Their correspondence often described success in the new country and encouraged siblings and cousins to follow. Many immigrants also sent money home to assist relatives with passage and resettlement.
A washer’s job in a paper mill would have provided exactly the kind of employment needed to support such a transition.
Based on the available evidence, we believe that John Elsik did have a brother named Joseph, who joined him in Durham, Maine, likely encouraged by John’s letters and support. Although no surviving letter confirms this theory, further documentary evidence of John’s siblings—including Joseph—continues to surface.