Tag: Durham

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Joseph Elcik Joins Our Ancestry Group

September 20, 2020, at 7:07 PM

Joseph – John, are your relatives from Lisbon Falls? There are not that many Elcik’s.

John – Yes. Joseph, if you are interested, I can share my research into our Elcik surname. I’ve been researching connections between two waves of immigrants in the 1880s. 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 it.

Joseph – As my father is James Elcik and was the middle child, Jack (John) passed away last year, and his younger brother Richard passed several years ago. Mother was Rose, and Father was Joseph Elcik. Unusual for myself, my mother is Slovakian and even more unique; my wife is 3/4 Slovakian. Somewhere with either my father or aunt is an Elcik family tree book. I have only seen it once. If I do come across it, perhaps I can copy and send it out.

John – Wow.

Joseph – Joseph Elcik was my grandfather..from Maine by way of Brooklyn.

John – I just researched James and his brother John for my only other New York Contact.

Joseph – James is my father, and John (Jack) was my uncle.

John – Your John J Elcik (1931)  was getting confused with John J. Elcik (194?).  John J. of Rocky Point, who recently passed.

Joseph – John J. was a retired police officer, if my memory serves.

John – Wonderful.

Joseph – Sorry, I do have to run to a meeting. I do have your email and will try to get you the family tree.

John –  May I have your email address?
Joseph – Yes, for personal use, it’s kikjo@aol.com. My phone is a little screwy today.

John – Just as well, I’m getting adjusting to new hearing aids. 🙂

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I’m Still Here


Fri 10/2/2020 12:36 AM

John,

To give you an update on what I’ve been doing. I’ve been back to St Cyril and Calvary cemeteries and taken more pictures and have imported them to my pictures folder. I’ll put those and others on the flash drive you sent me and send it back to you.

I talked to Eugene Elcik today, and he will come to our house and help me figure out some of the Elcik questions I have. I told him about you and what you’re doing, and he seemed very interested. He remembered the Durham Elciks and that they moved to NY. I told him all except George, who married Anna Gamache. He remembers both of them. I’m anxious to get together with him.

I’m also waiting to hear back from Marilyn Keamy (her maiden name was Karkos). She knows all the people in the Karkos family picture and will identify who is who.

Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve sent any correspondence. We’ve been very busy with family stuff, and at the end of the day, I’m too tired to think about much of anything. That plus going to cemeteries wears me out. I think I’m done taking pictures…for now at least.

Will keep you posted,

Beth

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Beth Gamache’s Introduces John Elcik to Bill Cizmar

 
Mon 10/12/2020 12:15 PM
Bill,
 
Beth Gamache has been trying to introduce us and has just shared your email with me. She is married to my 1st Cousin Jack and is a co-author of an eBook we are writing about our collaboration on ancestry research.
 
I apologize if I missed it; I can’t find any evidence of a Facebook invitation from you. Could you have reached out to one of the other Facebook John Elcik’s? If so, it is just one more piece of evidence that the same name can create identification issues.  This is true in real life, as well as ancestry research. 🙂
  • My Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jelcik
  • John Elcik (my son J.P., V): https://www.facebook.com/john.p.elcik
  • John Elcik (Rocky Point, New York): https://www.facebook.com/john.elcik
I am reachable through Facebook (above) or email at johnelcik@msn.com.
 
Bill, I understand from Beth that we both share interests in Ancestry.  Better yet for me, Beth tells me you know a lot about Lisbon. Beth is so happy that you introduced her to the Historical Society 3 years ago.
 
Our brick wall has been to find a link between two Elcik families and/or “jump the pond” to Europe to locate the 6th generation of our Elcik family.
 
Also, I apologize that this email will be so long. It has allowed me to summarize where we are and clarify our goals.  
 

Background Information

 
John Elsik (1866-1941) married Mary Pelcarsky (1875-1936) through whom I (IV), Dad (III), and John (Jr.) descended. In the 1910 Census, John Elsik identified his surname as Elsik. Elcik is the spelling used for the rest of the family.  John immigrated in 1891 and Mary in 1896. Ancestry and I agree that John Elsik is my great-grandfather.
 
John Elcik (1886-1982) was married to Mary Jeho Zena Jonek (1887-1951). John immigrated in 1905, and Mary immigrated a year later in 1906. He came to America through Ellis Island, and the name was changed to Elcik from Ilcik, as told to his grandson. His son, Andrew J. Elcik (1911-1995), married Jeannie Pascarella through whom many of the “New York” Elcik’s descended. This family includes my “New York” contact: John Elcik.
 
A 1940 Census document for Joseph’s family (sons John J. and James G.) uses the “Elsik” spelling of the Ilcik’s surname. This s particularly significant to us.  This is the first instance I have found of John Elcik (New York) direct relatives using this spelling, which can also be traced back to my Great Grandfather John Elsik, Sr.
 
Thanks to Beth’s research, we know one connection between the New York Elcik’s and us. Their George Elcik (in the 1920 Census) married Jack’s father’s sister Anna Gamache. The is not a blood relationship, yet both my John Elcik (Rocky Point, NY) contact and I think there should be one.  We all come from Western Europe (Austria/Hungry/Slovakia), spoke Slovak, and have a Catholic heritage.
 

Our Goals

 
We all believe the two families are more directly related, if and when, we can “jump the pond” to Europe. I briefly subscribed to Ancestry World Discovery to locate European Ancestors. I also have been trying to find an immigration document.  
 
I am looking hard for a European location to reach out to other descendants of our forefathers. But Europe is a big continent, and I have reached the proverbial brick wall. Individual responses in Census reports on our European origins are nonspecific. How our ancestors identified is as follows:
  • Czech Republic (14)
  • Austria (13)
  • Austria-Hungary (4)
  • Hungary (4)
  • Slovakia (4)
  • Austria-Slovakia (3)
The responses may be due as much to economics and politics as to specific geography.
 
My father always said we came here from Czechoslovakia, but our immigration in the late 1800s came before its creation.
 
As for geographic locations, I have found one reference to Parhovjani S, Czechoslovakia. Unfortunately, I don’t think it exists anymore.  And the literal translations are “parking lot.” Lol.
 
Based on the spelling of Elcik as Elsik in the 1910 Federal Census, I believe the surname spelling to research is Elsik. Or perhaps, Ilcik, if the Durham Elcik’s are relatives.
 
Beth tells me that you might know ways of researching documents, etc. that we don’t.
 
Any tips you have would be very welcome.  In addition to searching for immigration documents, I think a DNA test might help break the brick wall.  
 
It is a pleasure to meet another ancestry enthusiast.  I would like it very much if we can become friends as well.
 
Warmest regards,
 
John
 
Dr. John P. Elcik, IV
15117 Cloverdale Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33919
(561) 543-3626 (my wife Pam’s cell phone)
johnelcik@msn.com
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William “Bill” Cizmar

Mon 10/12/2020 8:06 PM
 
Bill,
 
It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.  
 
Wow! I love your background story and look forward to trying to answer future questions.
 
Also, it appears like you are tackling a huge, complex topic, i.e., all of Lisbon.
 
My little part of the story seems to be tied to a Lisbon Falls Elcik family that mostly stayed in Androscoggin County and a Durham Elcik family that moved to New York.  It isn’t black and white, but that is how Beth and I have been describing it.  
 
What I initially sent you is concentrated around the brick wall we have run into.  If you need more information for your project or help us, tell me what would help.
 
This time I attached a couple of Elcik documents and my favorite photo that might also be useful in your research.  
 
Thanks for the contact information for Deeb Keamy. I’m sure I will find a need to reach out.
 
Regards,
 
John
 
Documents:
John Elsik, Sr. (1868), 1910 United States Federal Census – Ancestry.com
Why We Spell Our Surname as Elcik
 
 
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Are John and Joseph Elcik Brothers?

Tue 10/13/2020 3:04 PM
Bill,
The attached story “Are John and Joseph Elcik Brothers?” and supporting documentation may be of interest.  It is a more detailed examination of the significance of using the Elcik vs. Elsik surname in further research.
Also, keep in mind that the Ilcik surname is also in play if there is a family connection between the Lisbon Falls and Durham Elcik’s. The encouraging note here is that at least one Durham family has used the Elsik surname.
Regards,
John, IV
10/21/2020 Are John and Joseph Elsik Brothers?

The Story:

I think I have proof that John Elcik (Elsik), Sr., my great-grandfather, had a younger brother Joseph.
John Elsik (1866-1941) was married to Mary Pelcarsky (1875-1936). John immigrated to America in 1891, and Mary immigrated in 1896. They had 7 children: John Jr (1896), Michael Joseph (1897), Mary Anna (1899), Andrew (1902), Annie (1905), Elizabeth (1905), and Susan M. (1910). Joseph Elcik (1871-1938) was married to Elizabeth Balnick (1871-1934). Joseph followed ten years later in 1901 at the age of 30. They had 3 children: Annie (1902), Lizzie (1905), and Mary (1908).
If so, this answers the question I put on the research agenda about the possibility of 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.

10 years are separating their immigration to America. John immigrated in 1891 at the age of 23 and Joseph in 1901 at the age of 30. All seven of John’s and all three of Joseph’s children were born in Androscoggin County, 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 Androscoggin County in 1910 was 59,822 (26,247 in Lewiston, 4,116 in Lisbon, and 1,625 in Durham) John, IV

P.S. It has been almost six weeks since this was posted. Today, I found this item on a genealogy site, which bolsters my argument that John and Joseph were brothers. John Paul Elcik, IV – Editor
“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 di

“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.”

 

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Re: Doctors Appointments

 
Wed 10/14/2020 5:13 PM
 
John, IV,
 
My doctor’s appointments went well.  I’m waiting for the hospital to schedule a stress test my cardiologist recommended.  Blood pressure, Blood work was all good, but there’s a gray area where they need to find out why I’m having shortness of breath after walking, going up a flight of stairs, etc.  We’re not sure if it’s coming from my neck or is a cardio issue.  We need to rule that out at this point.
 
I start PT tomorrow and am hoping that’ll help.  I’ve done this in the past, and it always does.  I’m anxious to get started.
 
I’m fine helping you with the eBook.  I wish we could figure out the Elcik family, especially if the Durham and Lisbon Falls Elciks are related somehow and if John and Joseph are brothers.  When I talked to Gene Elcik today, he said at the time the Slovak/Czechs began migrating to this country, Hitler was in power, and all those records were destroyed.  That’s why there aren’t any records available.  I just remembered someone else who may be able to help.  Her name is Patsy Armstrong (married name).  Her grandmother was Mary Elcik, your grandfather John’s sister.  Mary married Mike Dutko.  They had 3 children, Helen, Regina, and Mary.  Patsy’s mother was Helen.  She lives down the st from us.  I called her way back when about the Elcik family.  She may know the connection to Paul Joseph Elcik Sr, Paul Joseph Elcik Jr., and Mary A Elcik (not your grandfather’s sister Mary.)  Have I told you before that I drive myself “CRAZY” with this stuff!!!!
 
I also need to finish my Purinton/Day/Goddard family tree on Family Tree Maker.  I want to print it, but I am not totally familiar with how I want to do that.  I was working on that when we connected, and I went back to the Elcik/Byras/Gamache trees.  I had done a lot of that before we got involved, but I DO want to finish.  I get bogged down with technology, and then frustration sets in.  
 
If only I were as smart as you!!
 
Beth
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Eugene Elcik, Novelist with a Maine flavor!

Sat 10/17/2020 3:21 PM
My father, Andrew, J; my brother, Andrew W. II; his son Andrew Elciks III. (all deceased)
Keep up the SEARCH,
Gene