Coe Durland was born in Orange County, NY in 1832 and moved to Honesdale, PA in 1857. Soon after, the Civil War began, and like so many other young men he plunged into the Union effort, quickly organizing Company M, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, recruited for the most part in Salem Township, Wayne County. Durland was commissioned as captain of the new company, and he and his men distinguished themselves throughout the war, fighting in 55 engagements, including the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Five Forks and Appomattox. Durland’s rapid rise through the ranks culminated in his promotion on March 13, 1865 to Brevet Colonel, for “conspicuous gallantry in action.” On his return to civilian life, Durland was one of the founders of Honesdale’s first shoe factory, for years a mainstay of the Wayne County economy, which by 1895 was producing 720 pairs of shoes a day. Col. Coe Durland died in 1903 and is buried in Glen Dyberry Cemetery, Honesdale.

From the collection of the Wayne County Historical Society 810 Main St., Honesdale. The museum and research library are open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. through December (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day).