350Johann Leonard Siefert had his brother-in-law, Peter Eddleman, substitute for him in the Revolutionary Army.

517[Broderbund Family Archive #313, Ed. 1, Census Index: U.S. Selected Counties, 1810, Date of Import: Apr 25, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.313.1.3717.9]

Individual: Sifford, Leonard
County/State: Lincoln Co., NC
Location: Lincoln Co.
Page #: 361
Year: 1810

[Broderbund Family Archive #311, Ed. 1, Census Index: U.S. Selected Counties, 1790, Date of Import: Apr 25, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.311.1.2532.14]

Individual: Siffard, Leonard
County/State: Rowan Co., NC
Page #: 177
Year: 1790
Age ranges in household: 01-07-02-00-00
Leonard moved to Lincoln Co sometime between 1790 and 1800. He possibly had another son born after Samuel , who was born in 1792. He died sometime between 1810 and 1820. Nearly all of his children went to MO except John, his oldest son. He was buried across the road from Macpelah Church, but the graveyard reverted back to a farmer who let his livestock in it. Now all traces of the cemetery are gone. "THE OLD DUTCH MEETING HOUSE" GRAVEYARD Within sight of Macpelah Presbyterian Church in the southeastern part of Lincoln Co, NC, the Old Dutch Meeting House came into existence in the period around 1790. Mrs. Joseph Graham of Lincolnton says there are still people in the neighborhood who can remember the old log building that was used as a church. On the twenty-second day of May, 1793, the pioneer, Jacob Rein (Rhyne) made his will. He gave unto the Dutch Lutheran Church five pounds to be paid by his executors. His Son- in-Law, Adam Cloninger, who married his daughter, Magdalene, conveyed to "The Dutch Lutheran Church" thirty-five acres of land. Later this church fell into disuse and neglect and even the acre of the dead grew up in a thicket of bushes and brambles. When later attention was turned to it, others claimed the land and on account of lapse of time and technical defect in draft of the deed the land was lost. Capt. Brevard (Alexander) who was in possession in later years gave back the old graveyard which Mr. John Helderman cleared up and enclosed to stand till another generation will take possession. In August, 1928, near the old Dutch Meeting House, close by Macpelah Presbyterian Church in Catawba Springs township, a boulder was erected in honor of Jacob Forney, the pioneer, and his wife, Maria Bergner, bearing the following inscription: "In memory of Jacob Forney, French Huguenot and pioneer, born in Alsace in 1721, died in North Carolina, 1806, and his wife, Maria Bergner." Though Jacob Forney and his wife were quite wealthy, no tombstone was erected to their memory and they are buried in unmarked graves. He died in 1806 and she followed several years later. The graveyard at this time shows a need of care like all old graveyards which have no church. An occupied home stands close by and they have a rabbit pen in the burial ground and several more buildings around the ground. The location is just a few yards below Old Macpelah, directly on Highway 273, the Old Plank Road. It is not to be confused with the burial ground at Macpelah. The following five graves are marked thus: "In Memory of John Sifford who departed this life March 2, 1852; aged 78 years, 10 months, 26 days." "In Memory of Elizabeth Sifford who died July 12, 1863; aged 71 years, 4 months, and 4 days." (In the Office of the Clerk of Court at Lincolnton one can find the following marriage bond: John Sifford (Shifferd) to Elizabeth Durr; John Edwards, Surety; 30 March 1809; Thomas Wheeler, witness. This is probably the John and Elizabeth Sifford buried in this graveyard.) The two Sifford tombstones are buried close to each other like that of a husband and wife would be and marked with footstones. "In Memory of Susannah White, dau. of William and Margaret White who died March 25, 1803; 5 years and 38 days." "Sacred to the Memory of Loigd Helderman, Born January 27, 1774, Departed July 28, 1844; 79 years and 6 months." The above two tombstones are in a row with three unmarked ones. (Two are believed to be those of John Leonard Siefert and his wife, Elizabeth.) "Sacred to the Memory of Elizabeth Devault who departed this life November 9th A.D. 1798; 32 years, 11 months, and 2 weeks." The following lines are inscribed on the tombstone: "How loved, how valued once, avails thee not- To whom related or by who begot- A heap of dust alone remains of thee- 'Tis all thou art and all the proud shall be." (The above Elizabeth Devault is supposed to be Elizabeth Rudisill, wife of Matthias Devault and daughter of Michael Rudisill and his wife, Eve Dellinger.) There are five unmarked stones which stand in the burial ground. They are rough field stones. One has an inscription, or rather crude markings, which I could not make out.
Harry Sifford of Granite Quarry, NC says he remembers seeing the tombstones of Leonhard & wife.
Hattie Alexander took him there and showed them to him.

1768 Migrated with brother Georg Ludwig to Rowan Co, NC. Arrived in Philadelphia, PA.
Lived on same 701 acre tract in Ludwig's name with sister Elizabeth, Who married Killian Rhus (Reese, or Reece) in PA.
1793 Moved to Lincoln Co, NC.

1800 Census, Lincoln Co
2 males 0-10 (1790-1800) Samuel, Caleb
1 male 10-16 (1784-1790) Henry
3 males 26-45 (1755-1784) William A., Jacob, Lewis
1 male over 45 (bef 1755) Leonard (himself)
1 female over 45 (bef 1755) Catherine

1810 Census, Lincoln Co
1 male 10-16 (1794-1800)
3 males 16-26 (1784-1794) Samuel, Caleb, Henry
1 male 26-45 (1765-1784) William A.
1 male over 45 (bef 1765) Leonard
3 females 0-10 (1800-1810) George's daughters?
1 female 16-16 (1784-1794) George's wife? Note: Hattie Alexander said George was unmarried.
1 female over 45 (bef 1765) Catherine

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(Broderbund WFT Vol. 3, ED. 1, Tree #5460, Date of import: 7 Jul 1998)

I, James Colin Sifford, found a paper in the Lincoln County Library, 6/6/1994, a document written by I believe a Mr. Alfred Nixon, a noted historian from Lincoln Co.
"The first Sifford that we with certainty know about was John Sifford. He came from Germany when a young man. I found in some of my notes written in Sep 1927, 10 years ago, that Lizzie Sifford had in her possession a small box he (Mr, Sifford) had brought with him from Germany which he used for storing valubles. He also had a German Bible. Mr. Sifford and his wife are buried in unmarked graves in the Dutch Meeting House Cemetery."

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According to Hattie Alexander:
Leonard Sifford -- with his brothers, George Ludwig and William -- signed the Constitution of the Organ Church. He was a member of the building committee which started to build the stone church in 1774. It was finished in 1794. Previous to that time there had been two log churches.
Leonard Sifford m. ________ Eddleman, dau. of Bastian and Sarah Addleman, and sister of Peter Eddleman, who stated in his application for a Revolutionary Pension that Leonard Cifford was his brother-in-law. Since we know that Peter did not marry a Sifford, it follows by inference that Leonard married an Eddleman.
1 female over 45 (bef 1765) Catherine