Thu 12/17/2020 11:50 AM
Beth,
I text messaged this to several people. I included modified versions for Bill Cizmar and Robert Elcik.
John, IV
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I have just discovered the messaging feature here at Ancestry.com. Imagine my delight that 14 people have connections of potential interest regarding my great-grandfather John Paul Elcik. I am John Paul Elcik, IV and I have a son who also bears this name whom we call “JP.”
My research shows two different families from Europe settled in the late 1800s in Androscoggin County, Maine. Both are Slovak with a Catholic heritage, and both initially settled in Durham, Maine. I am sharing the following with everyone as I believe a lot of confusion exists regarding the surname Elcik.
The “Elsik” family which I am descended begins with John Paul Elcik (Elsik), and the first documented reference is the United States Federal Census 1910. I have a cherished photo of the family from that time period I would be happy to share.
- John Elsik (1866-1941) was married to Mary Pelcarsky (1875-1936). John immigrated to America in 1891, and Mary immigrated in 1896. I have some evidence that he had a brother, Joseph.
My grandfather in the 1910 census spells his, and only his surname as Elsik. Everyone else uses Elcik spelling.
The Ilcik family, which is a different family, maybe related, but the proof of that does not yet exist. When they arrived in America at Ellis Island, their surname was changed from Ilcik to Elcik. There is a family relationship to us through marriage, but it is not a bloodline relationship.
- John Ilcik (1886-1982) was married to Mary Jeho Zena Jonek (1887-1951). John immigrated to America in 1905, and Mary immigrated a year later in 1906.
I have written several documents on the Elcik family explaining all this in some detail. I address the issues of spelling: Elcik, Ilcik, Elcik, Elick. These documents and the 1910 family photo are available to all who express interest. Please email me with your request.
I also have a list of inquiries that are ongoing related to the Elsik and Ilcik families. Those questions also will be shared. Will you be the one with answers?
Have I have provided enough detail that you want to share information? I hope so. I am currently writing an eBook called MyCousins with Beth Gamache. Beth is the wife of my 1st Cousin, Jack. They live in Lisbon Falls, Maine, which I have always viewed as my “home” town without ever having lived there. Auntie Gertrude and Uncle Norman lived at 45 Davis Street, and it is where my family always returned to after living in Guam, Japan, and the Philippines. If you guessed my brothers and I lived in a military family, you would have been right; Dad was in the U.S. Navy.
Warmest regards,
John, IV
Dr. John P. Elcik, Ed.D.
15117 Cloverdale Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33919
Email: johnelcik@msn.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jelcik
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnelcik/