Civil War honoree with local ties commemorated at Sunday service
A great-great-great-grandson’s tireless research and diligent efforts resulted in a Civil War veteran with Logan County ties receiving a proper graveside tribute Sunday at his previously unmarked grave in Michigan.
Pvt. John Durflinger served in Company A in the Ohio 121st Infantry Division from 1862 to 1865 in the Civil War and bravely fought in at least 20 battles, including the Battle of Kinnesaw and Battle of Goldsboro Bridge, his grandson and family genealogy researcher Richard Durflinger said.
One of five brothers to serve in the Civil War, Pvt. Durflinger passed away after the war in 1903 and was buried in the Higgins Cemetery, later called the Roscommon Village Cemetery in Roscommon, Mich.
Pvt. Durflinger’s descendent said it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where his great-great-great-grandfather resided prior to the Civil War, but he has traced the honoree’s son, William Henry Durflinger, and his grandson, William Clyde Durflinger, both to the Bellefontaine area.
William Henry helped to found the Bellefontaine Waterworks sometime in the late 1880s to early 1890s. His son, William Clyde, also worked there, and it was said that he died there at his desk in 1951. This father and son pair is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Upon digging further into his family history in the last year through online avenues, Richard said he found that Pvt. Durflinger was buried in this Michigan town. He was able to perform further research with the help of village officials in Roscommon to track down his relative’s gravesite.
He found that someone had placed a flag and a veteran’s star at Pvt. Durflinger’s burial location, but his name was not at this site.
Richard, who resides with his wife, Kathy, in Ontario, Ohio, then went through the process of attaining specialized funding through the VA and federal government so that Pvt. Durflinger could have the official burial marker that he deserves.
The efforts to honor family and military service culminated with the ceremony Sunday in Michigan, where the Charles M. Engle VFW Post 4159 in Roscommon helped to perform a special tribute and burial rites befitting a veteran of such distinguished service.
“They say that in life, you die twice – once when you’re dead and once when your name is no longer remembered,” Chaplain Robert Aichele said during the service.
“For years, Pvt. Durflinger was lost, until a third-generation grandson dug and dug, and with the help of local individuals, found him. Now Pvt. Durflinger is no longer lost.
“Today, we give him the honor, respect and dignity he deserves.”
Fellow VFW Post members assisting with the service included Commander David Luck; riflemen Thomas Allen, William Fensch and Richard Sikkenga; and bugler Samuel Roemer.
Richard said for Memorial Day 2022, he and his family also have been invited to return to the site to remember his great-great-great grandfather.