Author: Dr. John P. Elcik, IV

Dr. John P. Elcik, IV is married to Pamela McClanahan and they have two children: J.P. and Michelle. John is retired from a marketing career for administrative software in Higher Education. His interests include child advocacy (as a Mason and Shriner); animal rescue, education (especially eLearning), mysteries, and science fiction.
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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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Backups


Fri, Aug 7, 2020, at 12:34 PM

Beth,

Would you like to have copies of my backup files? I would send you both the GEDCOM file to import a new tree, and a copy of the Family Tree Maker file, including sources, images, documents, and web links.

I feel that the more individuals that have access to our work, the better.

I feel blessed that you use both Ancestry and Family Tree Maker.

John, IV

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Why Ancestry Research?


Sat 8/7/2020 6:44 PM

To: Mark Elcik <marklcheck@yahoo.com>; Nancy Kashmer <lanaka@comcast.net>; Beth Gamache <gamachebeth83@gmail.com>; Janet Lucas <janw@maine.rr.com>; Rebecca Davis <rkashmerdavis@gmail.com>; Jeffrey Lee Elcik <jeff@anyport.com>; Pam Elcik <pamelcik@gmail.com>; J.P. Elcik <elcikjp@yahoo.com>; Michelle Elcik <mkelcik@yahoo.com>; James Stacy Elcik <jselcik@hotmail.com>

Subject: Why Ancestry Research?

Cousins, etc.,

I was sharing with Becky that I think a picture of the cover of the “Birds” book with the Kashmer farm illustrations and the back story would make a great addition to the tree. Becky’s response was perfect, “Could be a nice little fun fact to include… that isn’t the normal information included that I am used to seeing in family history.”

She is 110% correct. I observe that 80% or more of family trees limit themselves to sources and gravesite photos. Any photo at all is a newer concept as Genealogist’s focus has been on getting us amateurs to add citations to our family trees. The classic line has been that “Trees without sources are mythology.”

I think that what gets included in family trees needs to change dramatically. The purpose for me is to tell a story and preserve history. And I see changes taking place. Ancestry.com, for example, has made it easier to link to websites. Thus, I’m attaching links to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter. Pinterest, FindaGrave.com, and Obituaries to individuals in my tree.

I want us to educate others to preserve family history rather than building family trees. Don’t you think that history recorded as it happens is more accurate? I’m including unconventional items as “artifacts” in my version of the family tree. I use images of business cards, photos of homes, artwork, music, poems, quotes, stories I’ve written, etc. And I’m adding special events: birthday parties, anniversaries, graduations, promotions, travel, etc.

I have another goal in mind. It is even more ambitious. I want Facebook to modify its software. Currently, it myopically focuses on “friends” and is not “family” friendly. With a few minor adjustments, they could easily do both. As a former software builder, I have made this suggestion to them. Hopefully, they will listen. If not now, I’m sure someone will, someday.

We get so wrapped up in daily living that keeping up with what is happening with our extended family is difficult at best. And capturing the memories gets lost if the memories never get made.

Love to all,

John, IV

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Technology Finds Duplicates


Fri 8/7/2020 6:55 PM

Beth,

The attached Excel spreadsheet file has helped me find duplicate in four of your six family trees. See the first four worksheets. The last two are retained but have no duplicates that I could find.

The names (spreadsheet lines) of individuals highlighted in yellow are most definitely duplicates. Those in Orange are a high probability of being duplicated.

If you need a Word file, I could do that in about 30-45 minutes.

Technology makes the task easier. Family Tree Maker has a program, but I like this approach better. ?

Even so, please take it slow.

John, IV

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I’m Crazy


Aug 8, 2020, at 4:45 AM

Everyone,

I’m crazy. Or so I thought.

Now I know that I’m merely freaking out. Yesterday I got hearing aids only to have my peaceful world shaken up big time. My office chair squeaks. Not a little, a lot. I’m not sure if a can of WD-40 will fix this. Ouch! Worse yet, my keyboard makes loud noises when I type. Who knew? I sure didn’t. Annoying at best.

I live in Florida, and I wear flipflops instead of shoes. People miles away must know when I’m coming towards them. My daughter Michelle is laughing at me. She says she could have told me this one. Wow!

I may have to take the day off and smell the roses, listen.

John, IV