The Curse of Misspellings
The spelling of the Elcik surname reveals a persistent challenge faced by genealogists. Over time, the name appears as Elsik, Elcik, Elick, and eventually returns to Elcik. These changes often occurred from one census to the next. Beginning with Elsik/Elcik in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, the surname appears as Elick in the 1920 and 1930 censuses, before settling back on Elcik in 1940. Additional variations, such as Elcih, also appear. The census records themselves document these shifts.
Similar challenges arise with the Pelcarsky surname. Pelcarsky is the spelling provided by George Karkos, who married Annie, one of Mary’s daughters. Pelesaky appears on Michael Elcik’s marriage record, while Pelchascay is found on John Elcik’s marriage record. Each variation complicates the trail but also confirms family connections across records.
The Curse of Missing Information
In a 2007 letter, John P. Elcik, IV asked his father whether he could shed light on a September 1959 marriage in Maine between a “John Elcik” and Helen B. Mosko. The question raised the possibility of a second marriage involving a father or grandfather. At the time, his father claimed not to know.
Years later, a letter found among his father’s final effects confirmed that Helen and his father had, in fact, married. It was the second marriage for both, following earlier widowhood. A separate letter from Aunt Gertrude, addressed simply to “the kids,” references Helen’s immigration status and waiting for checks—suggesting unresolved matters, possibly even an inheritance.
The Curse of False Information
A reluctance to discuss money would become a defining fault line in later family relationships. John’s parents jointly owned land in the Lake Sebago area of Maine. After their divorce, his father sold the property without disclosure, keeping the transaction secret until after his former wife passed away.
As illness overtook her final years, John’s mother lived with him and his wife, Pam. Together, they reached out to his father seeking clarification or distribution of her share of the land. Instead, blame fell on John, and Pam was never forgiven for advocating on behalf of her mother-in-law.
Evidence later confirmed that John’s father had forged his mother’s name to complete the sale. The truth was never acknowledged. John was placed in the middle of an unspoken conflict, and his mother died without knowing what had happened.
The proceeds from the land sale likely helped pay for the college educations of John, Jeff, and Jim. While college degrees were not uncommon, they represented a significant milestone for the family. Their father did not live lavishly or spend the money on himself, but the cost of silence and secrecy left lasting emotional consequences.