Tag: Durham

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A Brother Named Joseph Elsik?


Thu 8/6/2020 3:37 PM

Everyone,

I have a theory about a possible brother.

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 were their siblings. There was at least one.

My evidence is in the 1910 United States Federal Census:

  • The men are just three years apart in age.
  • 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.”

John, IV

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A Family Mystery?


Fri, Aug 7, 2020, at 12:17 PM

Cousins, etc.,

Is there is a relation that connects the waves of Elcik (Elick, Elsik) families that immigrated to America in the 1880s? I can connect two as being us. We share a common heritage (Austria/Hungary/Slovakia), surname, and given names; specifically, John and James. We all settled initially in Lisbon Falls or Durham, Maine. Those that eventually went on to New York are part of the group I’m researching to see if a link exists.

  • John Elsik (Austria) (1866-1941) – My Great-Grandfather (Sr.) arrived here in 1891, 5-years before my Grandfather is born.
  • John P Elcik (1896-1963) – My Grandfather (Jr.)
  • John Paul Elcik (1928-2011) – My Father (III)
  • John Paul Elcik (1952-) – Myself (IV)
  • John Paul Elcik (1986-) – My son (V)

I can’t yet place the following family:

  • John Ilcik (16 MAR 1886-05 SEP 1962)
  • Andrew John Ilcik (26 OCT 1911-04 APR 1951)
  • John J. Elcik (5 AUG 1945-15 SEP 2018) (New York John’s Grandfather)
  • James G. Elcik (26 JAN 1934)
  • John Elcik (New York John, my contact)
  • Nickolas Elcik (2001)

John Ilcik (Slovakia) (1886-1962); There is only a 10-year age difference between this individual and my Grandfather. I think families are related, but I don’t have evidence. I suspect the link exists in Europe.

I would dismiss this as an Ellis Island spelling mistake except for New York John, and I see a family resemblance in some photos. We may decide to take DNA tests as…
Curiosity killed the cat satisfaction brought it back. 🙂

Any thoughts?

John, IV

P.S. And then there is another John Elcik (22 DEC 1931- 14 APR 2019) that I can’t place anywhere. Beth, it is these facts that could drive me crazy. 🙂 Have I mentioned that there are other ways to spell John? Johann, Jan. Am I crazy?

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Durham and Beth’s Theory


Sunday, August 9, 2020, 3:11 AM

Subject: The New York Elcik’s

John,

Very puzzling. There are so many names and stories he talks about that match the Durham family across the river. [Beth is talking about your father’s obituary]

John said his great grandfather was John Ilick, and his great grandmother was Mary Jonek, which matches the gravestone.

Also, in a 1920 census, there was:

John Elcik 33, Mary Elcik 32, Joseph 12, Andrew 8, George 4 1/2, Mary J. Jr. 10/12

The survivor’s John’s talking about are:

four sons: Joseph, Andrew, George, Michael, a daughter Mary, and a brother Paul. The census doesn’t mention Michael, but he may not have been born yet.

In the gravestone pictures I sent you, there was a:

  • Paul J Elcik Sr. 1896-1970 wife Mary A Fabian 1891-1978
  • Joseph A Kinney 1909-1989 wife Mary A Elcik 1917-2008
  • Paul J Elcik Jr. 1915-1992 wife Gertrude Fournier 1918-1993

Is it possible Paul J Elcik Sr 1896-1970 maybe his great grandfather’s brother?

In looking at this, I believe the George Elcik in the 1920 census, and the obit is George Elcik, who married Jack’s father’s sister, Anna. He was born May 30, 1915, which would make him 4 1/2 in 1920.

It all fits unless I’m missing something.

Beth

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Corrections and Connections

Tue 8/11/2020 9:01 PM

John,

The information I gave you about Jane Plourde wasn’t correct. She DIDN’T drown in the Androscoggin River. She drowned in a pond near her house in Lisbon. I always thought it was the Androscoggin, but Jack corrected me. My bad.

Jack also remembers going to Durham with his father and Bob Elcik’s father, George, to Bob’s grandfather’s house, John Elcik. That’s where they learned to smoke kielbasa from Bob’s grandfather. They would do that so they could have Kielbasa for Christmas. It was a Slovak tradition.

I have yet to record Jack’s family on Ancestry. I have all the information I need, need. I also need to “fix” all my Purinton, Goddard, Day mistakes. I had day surgery last Friday and have been a little “under the weather” since then. I’m feeling better and will “get back at it” in a few days.

I’m still thinking, as I believe you are too, there’s a connection between the two Elcik families. Maybe grand or great grandfathers were brothers??? The problem is, we can’t find any records stating that. Some day, just maybe someday, we will. To be continued.

Beth

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Will Joseph Elcik Join Our Group?

08-14-2020 AM 11:43 AM

Joseph,

If you are interested I can share with you some of the more interesting aspects of my research into our Elcik surname.

I’ve been researching connections between two waves of immigrants in the 1880’s. The families share a common heritage (Austria/Hungary/Slovakia), surname, and given names; specifically Andrew, George, James, John, Joseph, and Michael. We all settled initially in Lisbon Falls or Durham, Maine.

It may not be possible to link the families with U.S. data alone so I have expanded my search to European sources. Information is scarce and I’m handicapped not knowing the Slovak language. Nevertheless, I have discovered a lot and am willing to share my findings.

Warmest regards,

John

 

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Re: Joseph Elcik

August 15, 2020, 10:25 AM

John, IV,

This just keeps getting better and better!!! Sooooo, the aunt Joseph is talking about is Richard’s wife!!! AND they have 3 children. This is so awesome to find out more about the Durham Elcik family. The pieces to the puzzle are starting to fit and make sense. You’re lucky Joseph contacted you. Keep ’em coming!!!

I don’t know if you remember when I told you it took me 2 years to do my family history. Fortunately, I discovered a cousin (whom I didn’t know existed) when I went to a cemetery in West Bowdoin about 10-12 miles from where we live. A lot of my ancestors lived in that town. I contacted him and discovered his mother had handwritten several generations of my ancestors. I struck a gold mine when I did that. I took about 50 or more pictures in the cemetery that day, thank goodness. I spent the winter trying to put all those pieces together, plus I joined the Lisbon Historical Society where they had a collection of books and obituaries to help me in my search. They were a tremendous help at that particular time.

Unfortunately, they’ve been closed since March because of COVID-19. I’m positive they have Elcik obituaries and one day, I’ll ask them if I can go and do some research. I’m good friends with the President, VP, secretary and I’m pretty sure I can do that. Matter of fact, I’m the secretaries’ assistant and do the record-keeping for them. I need to call her about the Society business and will ask her if I can go some time. I’m waiting for cooler weather because the room doesn’t have air conditioning plus I’ve been dealing with medical issues I’ve told you about. I’ll get there, it’s just a matter of time. On the other hand, if you keep doing what you’re doing, you may have it figured out by the time I get there.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!!

Beth

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New York or Durham?

 
 
For weeks I have been making references to “New York” and “Maine” Elcik’s.  It may be a habit that I can’t break.
 
Nevertheless, I can share that your observations of the part the Androscoggin river may have played in our family history have inspired me to make a hypothesis for testing.  
 
It may be more accurate to refer to the families as either “Lisbon Falls” or “Durham” Elcik’s.
 
Do have this right?
 
John, IV