Tag: brother

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Cousin George?


On Sat, Aug 22, 2020, at 4:37 AM

Beth,

I’m providing the full names and dates of the individuals relevant to my question.

  • Anna Aurora Eva Gamache 1914-1998: Jack’s Aunt
  • George Michael Elcik (Ilcik) 1915-1977; Jack’s Uncle
  • My Aunt Gertrude Elcik Gamache 1921-2002; Jack’s Mom
  • My Uncle Norman Philip Gamache 1920-2013; Jack’s Dad

1. We know that Anna Eva Gamache and Norman Philip Gamache are siblings.

2. I cannot confirm Jack’s belief that George Michael Elcik (Ilcik) and My Aunt Gertrude were cousins. For him to be a 1st cousin, he would have to be a brother to John Elcik, Jr., which he isn’t. I believe that George was thought of as a cousin by Aunt Gertrude based on his Lisbon Falls’ proximity and the common surname. But unless we can identify the person that connects George with Aunt Gertrude, I think we need to conclude George is one of the “Durhan” Elcik’s and not a direct relation. I know my understanding of cousins once removed and second cousins are poor, so I used the relationship calculator in RootsMagic7. It could not find a relationship for us.

3. This does not change the fact the Anna and George’s marriage represents the only family link we currently have with the “Durham” Elcik’s.

Do you agree?

John, IV

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A Tough Research Question


Mon 8/24/2020 4:51 PM

John,

Yes, I agree with you. Jack knows the Durham George Elcik isn’t a cousin to his mother. I’ve at least taught him that much. I understand entirely 1st cousins, 2nd cousins, 1st cousins once removed, 2nd cousins once removed, etc.

An example in my family. My father had a 1st cousin Betty Jones. My brothers and I always called her “Aunt Betty” and believed her to be our aunt. Well, NO, she was our 1st cousin once removed. She was my father’s 1st cousin (their mothers were sisters.) Both my father and “Aunt Betty” were of the same generation. My brothers and I were of the “next” generation. That’s where the once removed come in to play. Age has NOTHING to do with it.

Another example: My mother had a 1st cousin, Alan, 22 years younger than her. My grandmother (my mom’s mom) and Alan’s mother were sisters. Alan was born when my mother was 22, BUT he was my mother’s 1st cousin. He was only a few years older than me, and people always thought he was my 1st cousin. He was my 1st cousin once removed.

Is this “clear as mud??”

Beth

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Are John and Joseph Elsik Brothers?

Life Story

Beth,

I think I have proof that John Elcik (Elsik), Sr., my great-grandfather, had a younger brother Joseph.
If so, this answers the question I put on the research agenda about 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.
  • All five of John’s and all three of Joseph’s children were born in Durham, Androscoggin, 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 Durham in 1910 was 1,625.

10 years are separating John and Joseph’s immigration to America. John immigrated in 1891 at the age of 23 and Joseph in 1901 at the age of 30.  One might reasonably speculate that the family couldn’t spare both sons in 1891.

John, IV 

[Just six weeks ago, I found this item on a genealogy site, which bolsters my argument that John and Joseph were brothers.
“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.”
http://livingwithbeth.com/10-rules-accepting-hints-ancestry/ – Editor]

Supporting documents for: “Are John and Joseph Elsik Brothers.”

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Facebook Chat – John Elcik and Cheryl Heath

September 1, 2020, 6:39 PM

Cheryl – Hi John, I’m your cousin from Maine. My dad was Richard Elcik. I’m glad I found you.

John – I am too. I’ve been working on our Family Tree, and it has been opening up opportunities for me to reach out and say hello. You were on my list. ? I have been in touch with Mark [Cheryl’s brother], Beth Gamache, and others.

Cheryl – I still remember the last time I saw you all. It’s nice to hear from you.

John – Me too! I am so sorry that time flies, and we don’t visit. Would you like updates on what I am doing with the Family Tree?

Cheryl – Yes, please, that would be great.

John – Life in Florida is good! Pam and I are enjoying semi-retirement. “Semi” because I sell digital real estate at identityXperts.com for fun (my only profit so far has been selling Edulytics.com), and Pam sells Beaded Necklaces as the PrincessOfCrafts.com.

J.P. is getting married this year and has bought a house with his fiance Ana. We are enjoying that they both are teachers with lots of time off. ? J.P. teaches science and math, and Ana is a kindergarten teacher.

Michelle is now working as a Pharmacy Tech for Walgreens. She makes more money than she did as a Store Manager and has more flexibility with her schedule, a good thing. We see her a lot while she makes renovations to the condo she bought with and then from her brother.

Pam and I just adopted a new puppy: Lucy Belle. Daisy and Holly went to the Rainbow Bridge over a year ago, so we felt it was time. Both of us had forgotten; however, how hard it is to train a puppy. Lucy is a challenge.
With Pam’s sister Kathleen also in Fort Myers, there are lots of opportunities for Family activities.

Usually, Pam and Michelle love visiting Mickey and Minnie at Disney in Orlando, and we all love cruises. The big ships are amazing. Disney has reopened (with masks and social distancing), and we have a cruize schedule for our Wedding Anniversary in November. We are hoping the reservation holds.

I am working on an Ancestry.com family tree and monitoring Facebook to stay out of trouble.

How about you and your family?

Cheryl – Joe, and I are still working. We have two kids. Amanda lives in Charleston, S.C she works for the Army Corps of engineers. Joe lives in Maine a few miles away. He’s married and has two kids. Reanna is a senior, and Blake’s is 12 years old.

John – Wow! Sounds wonderful. Working is good with the world as topsy-turvy as it is right now. Have you seen the video of our dad’s singing?

Cheryl – No.

John – I can send you a link. May I have your email?

Cheryl – caheath57@yahoo.com

Cheryl – I work at Brahms Mount. We make high-end blankets.

John – That sounds interesting. I will send you a couple of emails to bring you up to date. Also, I hope by us both being on Facebook; we can keep a conversation going from time to time. I realize you are working, and we are not, so don’t feel any social pressure.

John – Almost all my friends are conservative Republicans, so I hope they and I won’t upset you.

Cheryl – No, that is what makes the world go round.

Cheryl – I tried to reach out to you and your brothers when your dad passed. I couldn’t get anywhere. But I would love to chat every once in a while.

John – Wonderful. Jim just retired, so he joins me on Facebook. I can get you the contact information for both he and Jeff.

Cheryl –  Please, I have sent a friend request to both. I want to stay in touch with you all.

John – I know they join me in wanting that. I’m going to have to sign off for now. Lucy, the new puppy, wants to take a walk, and she has little to no patience. “Patience is a virtue; catch it if you can. Seldom in a woman, never in a man.”

Cheryl – Take care, talk to you later ?

John – Perfect. ?

Cheryl – Bye

John – Bye, for now.

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Questions and Answers


Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 3:16 AM

To: Nancy Kashmer <lanaka@comcast.net>
Subject: Questions and Answers

Nancy,

Do you and Larry still own the farm? Do you still work? Where are the kids, and what are they doing?
Did you see my challenge questions about the stories I tell? I told part of two stories and asked if anybody can, as Paul Harvey would say, tell, the “rest of the story.”
Who in our family was a Warlock? How do we know this to be true?
Who owned the dog “Kippy” and what Kippy’s story could I tell? (It still can bring the house down with laughter.)
You should know the answer to both as they are close to home. lol

For us, Fort Myers Elcik’s, Life in Florida is good!

Pam and I are enjoying semi-retirement. “Semi” because I sell digital real estate at identityXperts.com for fun (my only profit so far has been selling Edulytics.com), and Pam sells Beaded Necklaces as the PrincessOfCrafts.com on BeadedNecklaces.com.

J.P. is getting married this year and has bought a house with his fiancé Ana. We are enjoying that they both are teachers with lots of time off. ? J.P. teaches science and math, and Ana is a kindergarten teacher.

Michelle is now working as a Pharmacy Tech for Walgreens. She makes more money than she did as a Store Manager and has more flexibility with her schedule, a good thing. We see her a lot while she makes renovations to the condo she bought with and then from her brother.

Pam and I just adopted a new puppy: Lucy Belle. Daisy and Holly went to the Rainbow Bridge over a year ago, so we felt it was time. Both of us had forgotten; however, how hard it is to train a puppy. Lucy is a challenge.

With Pam’s sister Kathleen also in Fort Myers, there are lots of opportunities for Family activities.

Usually, Pam and Michelle love visiting Mickey and Minnie at Disney in Orlando, and we all love cruises. The big ships are amazing. Disney has reopened (with masks and social distancing), and we have a cruise scheduled for our Wedding Anniversary in November. We are hoping the reservation holds.

I am working on the Ancestry.com family tree with Beth and monitoring Facebook to stay out of trouble.

How about you and our family in Maine?

Cousin “Johnny”

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Warlock


On Thu, Sep 10, 2020, at 7:44 AM

Beth,

Jack and Nancy’s father was a Warlock.

Both he and Auntie Gertrude told us Elcik boys the same story, so it must be true. It seems that Uncle Norman is the seventh son of a seventh son.

Inherited with this ancestry came particular abilities. One of these was the ability to wish away warts. Uncle could do this. If one ordered him to do so, it was within his powers to wish them away.

My brother Jeff just so happened to have a wart on his hand, and to hope for the best; he asked our Uncle to wish the wart away. My brother, not one to listen carefully, made a polite request. Not having made it an order, Auntie Gertrude expressed doubts if his magic would work given the politeness of Jeff’s request.

Sure enough, the wart remained a couple of days later when it otherwise would have been expected to disappear.

As a postscript, I must testify that a couple of weeks later that the wart was gone. No medication, just gone. My conclusion? Uncle Norman was a Warlock, and his powers were working. I also should defend Jeff. I don’t think I would order Uncle Norman to do anything.

John, IV

P.S. The Kippie story may need censorship. ?

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Farm “Life in These United States”


Thu 9/10/2020 10:46 AM

Nancy,

I thought of submitting this to Reader’s Digest. But, I never did.

There is an image stuck in my mind that surfaces occasionally and always produced a chuckle.

Nancy, if memory serves, I think this occurred during a phone call with you many, many years ago.

At any rate, it was during the mass confusion that can only happen when the kids are playing, and two adults are trying to have a phone conversation. Oh, and you also must live on a farm.

I inquired about the commotion in the background, and Nancy, you shared with me that the vet had been out to the farm the previous day to inseminate one of the female cows. Becky, the youngest, was chasing Kippie, the family dog, with a baggie on his hand shouting, “Come here, Kippie, I want to bread ya.”

Becky had decided that Kippie needed a little brother or sister, and she was going to help.

[I’m not making this up. ?]

Cousin Johnny

[I initially couldn’t remember who was chasing Kippie. Nancy remembered the incident and shared with me that it was Becky. – John P. Elcik, Editor]