The Lost Treasure of Lincoln County: A Great American Adventure

By Nancy Sifford Alana

A Great American Adventure The Lost Treasure of Lincoln County is a childrens historical fiction for older children and adults that promotes pride in America. The spirit of patriotism is weaved throughout the adventures of two boys, Jonas and Dale, who find an old wooden box that contains a treasure map. With the help of a local historian, the boys find the treasure. The contents of the treasure teach the boys about the Siefert/Sifford family who immigrated to America in 1753 from Germany. The story takes place in Lincolnton, North Carolina, in 1958 and ends when the boys return from the Viet Nam War in the early 1970s.

The novel teaches about the history of the American flag, how to fold a flag, and why a flag is positioned at half-staff. This novel promotes respect for our military men and women both in the present and in the past.

A section at the end of the book helps the reader know if the information in the book is fact or fiction. The Great Pennsylvania Wagon Road, the U. S. Mint in Charlotte, NC, the Lincolnton flood of 1916, and the Battle at Ramsour's Mill are mentioned in the story.

The book contains a family tree that begins with Joachim Siefert and ends with John F. Sifford and other family history information.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456700102

Nancy Sifford Alana

About the Author NANCY SIFFORD ALANA loves to inspire children to read by introducing them to books that contain exciting adventures, laughter, mystery, and a lesson about life. As an elementary school teacher, she loved reading aloud to her students. Nancy has spent countless hours over the past twenty years researching her family history and learning historical facts from each generation. She has woven much of that information into A Great American Adventure: The Lost Treasure of Lincoln County. She is proud to be an American and hopes that young people will develop a sense of pride and patriotism as they read the novel. Nancy Sifford Alana was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, and has lived in Granbury, Texas for over thirty years. She retired after thirty-four years in education. She was a teacher and an elementary school principal. Her husband is a retired teacher and coach. Their two adult children live in the Dallas area with their families. She enjoys sharing new books with her grandchildren whom she hopes will find adventures in real life as well as on the pages of an exciting book. She can be contacted at [e-mail].

Book preview

DEDICATION

It is with great appreciation that I dedicate this book to those brave individuals who left their homelands and settled in America. Their hopes for a brighter tomorrow and endless opportunities inspired them to follow their dreams in the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness for themselves and their families.

I also dedicate this book to future generations who will be entrusted with the responsibility of keeping America the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

SPECIAL THANKS

I would especially like to thank my husband, Don, for his patience and encouragement with this novel.

I would like to thank my parents Roy Dean and Margaret Whitt Sifford. They instilled in me an appreciation for our family who lived before us, participated in this journey called life, and contributed to the America in which we now live.

I would also like to thank Harry Sifford and Dale Sifford for their endless research and recording of historical information on the Siefert/Sifford family.

They are all treasures to me.

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1 Jonas and the American Flag

Chapter 2 Summer Days

Chapter 3 The Creek and the Small Wooden Box

Chapter 4 Searching for Clues

Chapter 5 Clues Uncovered

Chapter 6 The Wisest and Most Knowledgeable

Chapter 7 A Toast to Success

Chapter 8 The Plan

Chapter 9 Seeking Clues Along the Creek

Chapter 10 Discovery in the Stable

Chapter 11 The Treasure

Chapter 12 The Treasures Within

Chapter 13 The 4th of July Parade

Chapter 14 The Reward

Chapter 15 American Heroes

Fact and Fiction

Timeline of Major Events

Sources

About the Author

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Photo by Nancy Alana

You’re a grand old flag,

You’re a high flying flag,

And forever in peace may you wave.

You’re the emblem of

The land I love,

The Home of the Free and the Brave.

George M. Cohan

Prologue

BURIED TREASURES have long intrigued us. Just the thought of finding something of value that has been hidden away for quite some time can cause the competitive spirit to rise in the young and old alike. This novel is historical in part and fiction in part and will lead you on an adventure involving two young boys, an older gentleman, and a treasure chest.

The fictional characters, Jonas and Dale, were ten year old boys living in Lincolnton, North Carolina, in 1958. They were best friends who lived across the street from each other. Together they could turn an ordinary day into an adventure without really trying. Just exploring in their neighborhood provided them with lizards to chase, trees to climb, creeks to explore, and adventures fit for fun and creating memories.

The 1950s were filled with young families whose fathers and grandfathers had fought in World War II. It was a time of rebuilding, opportunity, prosperity, and hope. It was expected that families ate their meals together, worshipped together, and spent free-time together. It was the time of black and white televisions, party-line telephones, and Big Chief tablets along with family picnics and five hamburgers for a $1.00 deals at the local drive-in. It was great to be an American especially an American child.

Life was simple in this small North Carolina town and spent outdoors as much as possible. Air conditioning during the summer was limited mostly to attic fans or window air conditioners. Children did not spend all day in front of the television although they usually began their day by watching Captain Kangaroo or Howdy Doody. They used their imaginations and found creative ways to play outside from daylight to dark.

In the 1950s, boys such as the ones in this novel, dressed in plain white t-shirts or striped or plaid shirts, blue jeans, and Converse high-top basketball shoes. Their blue jeans usually had holes in them that had been patched by their mothers, and had been handed down from a big brother, relative, or neighbor who had outgrown them. Boys had very short hair that was cut in styles called flat-tops or burrs. They went to the barber shop, marked with a striped barber’s pole, to get a haircut. Young boys, usually accompanied by one of their parents, would arrive at the barber shop and wait for their turn in the barber’s chair. It was a good place to catch up on local gossip, and the young boys would receive a free piece of bubble gum or a lollipop before they left.

It was also a time people remembered the events of World War II and the Korean War. The Viet Nam War was just getting started, and men who had already been to war hoped their sons would not have to fight in the next one. There was a deep love for America and a tremendous amount of pride in those who served in the military. Many fathers, sons, and brothers had not returned from the wars, and hearts were stirred with their memories whenever the American flag was marched proudly down the street. Hats were quickly taken off the heads of men and boys and placed over their hearts. Everyone would stand tall with their hands over their hearts and show respect for the Red, White, and Blue.

In this novel, Jonas and Dale befriend an older gentleman, Mr. Harry Sifford, a trusted and respected man who enjoyed sharing his knowledge of local history with them. He also proved to be a great help to the boys throughout their adventure. Jonas and Dale grew to love him as much as a grandfather. In real life, Harry Sifford and his wife Virginia, lived in Salisbury, North Carolina, and did extensive research on the Siefert/Sifford family.

This novel contains historical information that is based on fact; however, many of the characters, events, and situations are fiction. At the end of the novel, you will find a chapter-by-chapter explanation to help you separate fact from fiction. A family tree, a timeline, and historical data provide you with additional information.

Now it is time to discover some treasures of your own.

1

Jonas and the American Flag

JONAS loved sleeping late on lazy summer mornings. He could wake up slowly and think about his day before he had to get out of bed and get dressed. He thought it odd that he had been dreaming about marching in a parade with a band and carrying an American flag. In his dream, he had seen many people standing on the sides of the streets waving flags and cheering. He was puzzled about the dream. He had been to several parades in the past but had never marched in one. He wondered why he had dreamed about it.

Jonas rolled out of bed, got dressed, and walked into