Tag: Lisbon Falls

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Terry L. Karkos, Maine Genealogist

 

November 19 at 1:38 PM.

[Terry L. Karkos is a former Staff writer, a photojournalist at Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine).  His genealogy website KarlosChronicles.com was one of the first Slovak websites I visited.  There I learned “that George F. Karkos was born in Lisbon Falls on September 11, 1899. He married Annie M. Elcik in Lisbon Falls on February 9, 1925. Annie, born in Durham, Maine, on April 10, 1905, to John and Mary (Pelcarsky) Elcik, died in Lisbon Falls on May 14, 1982. George died in Brunswick, Maine, on April 7, 1965.” Annie had a twin sister named
Elizabeth.” – Dr. John P. Elcik, IV – Editor]

John, IV – Do you know if there is a family relationship between Mary Pelcarsky (1875-1936) and Anna Pelcarsky Karkos (1877-1940? This would be the second relationship between Elcik and Karkos families as Annie M. Elcik (1905) married George F. Karkos in 1925.

Terry – No. I know Anna’s parents were Joseph Pelcarsky and Anna Belyan, though. Belyan was born c. 1848 and died in Lisbon Falls on March 1, 1938. Anna Pelcarsky was born 9-17-1877 in Parchovany, Slovakia. The funny thing is, Joseph K was 26 when he married 15-year-old Anna Pelcarsky. Wondering if it was an arranged marriage

John, IV – Thank you! This is the second time you have helped me. Years ago, when your website was active, I first learned about Annie Elcik from you. I hope you choose to bring your website back. It was well done. Warmest regards!

Terry – Working on bringing it back. I need to find a site to park it again. Thanks, John. Glad I could help

John, IV – I might be able to help. I have extra space on my SiteGround account. I could set up a WordPress site for you if you wish. Are you familiar with WordPress? Us Genealogists should stick together.

Terry – I have heard of WordPress. My brother in Utah sent me a site to check out. I will get my site back up. Several people have been asking about it. My wife and I moved to Holbrook, AZ, last August, after selling my house closer to my Dad and siblings and their families down in Apache Jct and Gilbert. In Utah, my brother Scott, who also does genealogy, just visited Saturday, driving my Dad (83) up here from AJ. I hope you are doing well.

John, IV – I am. My wife and I are adjusting to having adult children by adopting dogs. Getting our second next Sunday.

Terry – Oh, nice! We’ve got two adult kids, one outside of Green Bay and the other at the Cape entrance in Mass. I don’t know if they have pets, but we’ve got four grandkids, one of whom is autistic.

John, IV – Our son and daughter live close to us in Fort Myers, Florida. Michelle is a Pharmacy tech and 10 minutes away. JP is a teacher and just got married. They are about 45 minutes away. I tease that they live in Canada. ?

Terry – Lol.

John, IV – My daughter in law teaches autistic and otherwise challenged students. She has a gift.

Terry – Nice.

John – I have to help Pam, my wife, prepare for a yard sale. Please stay in touch and let me know if you want a WordPress site. I even have an extra domain name. ? It… Not as clever as your branding was… Lol… WordPress is easy and powerful…

Terry – Sorry, my wife needs me, too, lol. Have fun, be safe.

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The Pelcarsky Puzzle

Wed 11/25/2020 3:22 PM

Beth,

Yesterday I received documents and photos from Elizabeth May (Adams) Shute.  I am over the moon, happy with what she has provided.  Most of the information is related to the Skillin branch of the family, which will take time to bring into the MyCousins tree.

Where Are My Great-Grandparents Buried?

So far, her notes on the Elcik branch resurfaces one huge question, i.e., where are my Great-grandparents buried?  John Paul Elcik, Sr. (06 NOV 1866-24 MAY 1941) and Mary Pelcarsky (16 NOV 1870-23 AUG 1936)?

John Elcik, Jr. (20 FEB 18996- 31 MAR 1963) in St. Cyril is my Grandfather, and he is married to Mary A. Gertrude Byrus (5 NOV 1990-18 APR 1951). We have the benefit of a photo.

Could father and son both be buried in St. Cyril Cemetery?  I’m beginning to think so.

Who Is Mary Polscoke? 

Elizabeth’s notes identify two different individuals:

  • Maria Anna Parcheky (16 NOV 1870-23 AUG 1936); Born in Austria, died in Lewiston and buried in St. Cyril’s Cemetery. Elizabeth shows Maria as being married to John, Sr. (06 NOV 1866-24 MAY 1941).
  • Mary Polscoke (28 SEP 1887-13 AUG 1951, Born in Austria, and buried in Calvery Cemetry. Elizabeth shows Mary as being married to John, Jr. (20 FEB 1886-31 MAR 1963)

[The first record is my Great-Grandmother. She and my Great-Grandfather are buried in St. Cyril Cemetery. We have only recently found the gravesite, but we know have pictures. – Dr. John P. Elcik, Editor]

While it is comforting that we have the same birth/death dates for Mary Pelcarsky as she does for Maria Anna Parcheky, the question remains, what is the real spelling for John Sr.’s wife (her maiden name)? Mary Pelcarsky, Maria Anna Parcheky, or something else? And who is Mary Polscoke?

What is the Correct Spelling for My Great-Grandmother’s Maiden Name? 

As you know, I have documents where surnames other than Pelcarsky were used, but I discounted them as the narrative of George F. Karkos (taken from his wife Anna Elcik) seemed the more creditable.

  • Polscoke is the spelling of John Elcik, Jr’s mother on his 20 FEB 1896 birth, Maine Vital Records.
  • Pelchascay is John Elcik, Jr’s mother on his marriage to Mary Byrus (sic), Maine Marriage Index.
  • Palcsak is Mary Elcik’s mother upon her 4 OCT 1915 wedding to John Dutko, Maine Marriage Index.
  • Pelesaky is Michael J. Elcik’s mother on his 1 AUG 1930 marriage to Annie H. Sero, Maine Marriage Index.
  • Polcarski is an unknown daughter’s mother on her 29 AUG 1910 birth, Maine Vital Records.
  • Pelchaleky (Marie Pelcarsky) married Paul Elcik, Sr., Maine Vital Records.

Also, supporting the George F. Karkos spelling of Pelcarsky are:

  • Mary Pelcarsky is Michael’s mother, as recorded in the 19 JUL 1920 Record of Marriage in Lisbon Falls, Maine for Mary Sero (Clerk) and Michael J. Elcik (mill operator).
  • Mary Pelcarsky is John’s mother in the 11 JUN 1918 Record of Marriage in Lisbon Falls, Maine for Mary Byras (Home) and John Paul Elcik (Laborer).

I have checked the online records at both Mount Calvery Cemetery and St. Cyril Cemetery for three spellings: Pelcarsky, Polscoke, Parcheky.  I can’t find a gravesite using any of them.

The definitive solution to the surname puzzle may require that we find John Elcik, Sr. or Mary’s gravesite.

Beth, Do you think not all of the individuals buried at these cemeteries may be identified online? [I know, I’m driving you crazy, again.]

John, IV

P.S. I also know how much you enjoy visiting cemeteries. Take Jack with you. Lol.

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Re: Status Updates

Fri 12/4/2020 1:19 PM

Beth,
 
First, I hope you and Jack are doing well and preparing to enjoy the holidays.  We are doing that here. In fact, my delay in responding to your email results from the holiday’s “honey-do this” list. Lol.
 
Thank you very much for being willing to follow-up on the possibility of John, Sr. being buried in St. Cyril’s.   
 
Mostly we agree on the contents of your message (see below), but I am underlining text where I think you may need to make changes in the tree.
 
To clarify the discussion about Michael Joseph Elcik (1897–1980). My records show BIRTH 16 JUL 1897 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin, Maine, USA; DEATH 22 JUN 1980 • Toms River, Ocean, New Jersey, USA. He is my great-uncle.
 
I agree with you that Paul Joseph Elcik Sr. (1896–1970) BIRTH 15 FEB 1896 • Czechoslovakia; DEATH 23 DEC 1970 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin, Maine, USA husband of great-aunt is married to Mary A Fabian (1891–1978) BIRTH 8 OCT 1891 • the Czech Republic; DEATH 23 NOV 1978 • Lisbon Falls, Androscoggin County, Maine, USA. Mary A. Fabian is my great-aunt.  Thankfully, this is “set in stone” (Lol) as per your photo of the gravesite.
 
Maria Pelcarsky, who is presenting a mystery for us, was married to a different Paul Elcik (an Ilcik Elcik). At least, that is my working theory.  It is unsubstantiated as I don’t have supporting dates of birth or the marriage. This collaborates with your feeling that we are talking about different families. We are—the all too familiar Elsik vs. Ilcik conundrum.
 
I also agree that Paul J. Elcik, Jr. (1915-1992 married Gertrude Fournier.  We agree that Gertrude was born in 1918., but your date of death is presumably a mistake (typo?).  According to the US Social Security Death Index, Gertrude Fournier died on 19 JAN 1983 (not 1993).
 
I agree that Mary A. Elcik (1917-2008) married Josepf Kinney (1909-1989). Sandra D. Eck was born June 12, 1942, in Lewiston, a daughter [Not a sister] of the late Joseph A. & Mary A. (Elcik) Kinney. A lifelong resident of Lisbon Falls, she attended local area schools and graduated from Lisbon High School.  I got this from the obituary.
 
Again, thanks for everything you do!
 
John, IV
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Cyril and Methodius Church in Lisbon Falls

Mon 12/7/2020 3:08 PM

Beth,

Pam and I tried to call the phone number, but it no longer works. Just so you can see where I got it from, the link is at the bottom of this email.  I guess information never dies on the Internet. Lol.
I then tried to do some research on the Church and its cemetery (mostly using Wikipedia).
We will need access to the HS document to figure this out. The Church was founded just 17 years before John, Sr.’s death and internment.  Without access to property records, ownership of the Church building and the cemetery is unknown.  The story is fascinating so let me share it.
Cyril & Methodius Church in Lisbon Falls (founded in 1923) and Holy Family Church in Lisbon Falls (founded in 1888) joined together to form a new parish. Our Lady of the Rosary Parish was established in 1975 after the Dominicans, who cared for a mission church in Sabattus from 1905 to 1975, transferred it to Portland’s Diocese.
The former St. Cyril and St. Methodius Church is located in Lisbon Falls, at the southeast corner of Maine State Route 125 and High Street. It is a large rectangular brick building with a gabled roof. Squat square towers flank the front facade with buttress-style projecting pilasters at the corners. The facade center has a large Gothic arch, in which there are two entrances, each also set-in arches, with a circle-in-cross design above. Atop the large arch is a wagon-wheel rose window, and a cross crests the gable above.
St. Cyril and St. Methodius Church was designed in 1923 by Lewiston architects Gibbs & Pulsifer and are an imposing example of a neo-Gothic architecture for a relatively small community. The structure is one-storied of brick with a slate-covered gable roof. Square two-story towers flank the entrance. The main facade is dominated by a huge Gothic arch outlined in stone, which encloses double doors. It is also the only known church in Maine with an association to the Slovak immigrant community. It was dedicated in 1926 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It is presently home to the Maine Art Glass Studio.
The Slovak community in Lisbon Falls was formed in the 1890s when a group migrated from New Jersey searching for work at the Worumbo Mill and formed a tightly knit social group. Alienated from other well-established cultural groups, they formed their own Catholic organization and raised funds to build this church, completed in 1923. It was formally accepted into the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in 1936. The building now houses a studio of glass artists.
I will have to be patient.
John, IV
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Re: Correction?

Sat 1/23/2021 10:22 AM
John,

 
Now I don’t know what to think.  According to their birthdates, they’d be his daughters, BUT I found a marriage certificate for Elizabeth Annie Elcik, born in Lisbon Falls married to Joseph Louis Turcotte, born in Skowhegan.  He was 20 in 1921, and she was 16.  That would make her birth year 1905.
If this is Joseph’s daughter, then who is Elizabeth A Elcik Frank, who married Melnot M Frank???  That’s the Elizabeth from the obit Earl sent me.  It lists her sisters as Anna Evanisko of Lisbon Falls and Mrs. Joseph Dereche of Hartford.  She was 42 in 1947, so her birth year would be 1905.
What in the world is going on with the Elcik family???
Beth
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Re: Elcik Genealogy

Tue 1/26/2021 11:18 AM
Charlie,
I could easily harbor some feelings of envy for reasons that you might relate to.
All my cousins grew up and stayed in their local hometowns in Maine. The Gamache family in Lisbon Falls and the Lucas family in Old Orchard Beach/York, Maine. For most of my childhood, I relocated every several years. And as an adult, the moves were more often than I would have wished for.
The John and Madeline Lucas family has seven children (my first cousins) and lived in a huge house.  In contrast to my father’s Navy career, I thought I would put down roots in a small town and have a large family. I also wanted a multi-generational home. Lol.
A historical note is appropriate. The large house I envied was the Lucas family home. In August 2012, it became the York Harbor Inn’s newest luxury property: Chapman Cottage and Tavern. It is on my to-do list to stay there someday.
Interestingly, my wife Pam’s family is smaller than mine.  And she and our two children are quite enough. I am grateful that we all live within a few minutes of each other.  If Pam agreed, I would have become a DIY guy and built a “tiny” home. She won’t, and I haven’t. Are you familiar with the concept? That is a significant change in direction. Lol.
John, IV
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Deeb

Wed 1/27/2021 4:53 PM
John,
Using the American surname for Ancestry would be easier (in my opinion) for people researching the Elcik family.  It certainly would be for me.  Also, the surname’s history is a wonderful idea and helps explain the difficulty of understanding birth certificates, marriages, etc.   If Deeb Keamy hadn’t made this discovery, we probably would never know this information.  A Life Story article would be very appropriate, and I’m happy you’re writing it as I wouldn’t know where to begin!!
A little history about Deeb: his mother is Marilyn Keamy.  Her maiden name was Karkos, and I originally contacted her about the Karkos family picture of the 10 children and the mother and father sitting in chairs in front of them.  She identified everyone with a little history of them.  She’s 93 and has an amazing memory, and has become a good friend of mine recently.  She mentioned contacting her son, Deeb, as he loves Ancestry and has resources that we obviously don’t have.  I mentioned that to Charlie, and he contacted him.  You know the rest of the story.  Deeb also belongs to the HS even though he lives in MD.  He’s retired now but worked in some capacity in Washington DC.  He grew up in Lisbon Falls and has 6 siblings.
Beth