AREA HISTORY:  Incorporation, Dover Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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INCORPORATION – Page 677

The town of Dover was incorporated in 1864, just one hundred years after it was 
founded.  Reuben Hoffheims, now of York, was the first chief burgess, and Jacob 
B. Fink, secretary of the council.  There are now two hotels and several stores.  
It is a very pleasant village, with a population of 550, and a real estate 
valuation of $125,776.

The hotel on the square was kept by George Darrone, father, son, and grandson, 
from 1809 to 1859, without change of name.  It has been kept in the Wiest name, 
father and son, for thirty years continuously.

Dr. Lewis, a prominent physician of this town, was the agent of the “underground 
railroad,” through Dover during times of slavery in the South.

The oldest person of the village, Elizabeth Fink, is ninety years; Daniel Gross 
is eighty-six and John Rodgers eighty.  The Dover cornet band was organized, and 
at first was connected with Capt. Worley’s volunteer military company.  It now 
has a membership of eighteen, with Roman Bowersox as leader.

Carriage building for many years past, has been an important industry, and large 
numbers are now being made.  Reuben Hoffheins, in 1858, began the manufacture of 
a reaper of his own invention.  In 1860 he began to make also the “Ball reaper” 
in large quantities.

The postoffice was established in 1815.  Soon after the Revolutionary war, 
Israel Melchinger, an ex-Hessian soldier located here, and so far as can now be 
stated, became the first postmaster.  He was still in office in 1830; he 
prospered in business.  His son Englehart Melchinger, succeeded him.  O. J. Yost 
and Samuel Aughenbaugh were also postmasters.

A destructive fire occurred in Dover, in March, 1844.  Two houses, a tavern and 
a stable were destroyed, on the Public Square.  Soon after this event the town 
purchased the old engine from the Vigilant Fire Company, of York.  It is kept in 
an engine house on the square.

The carriage shop of Theopholus Gross burnt down a few years ago.  There being 
too small a supply of water in the vicinity, the engine could not be effectively 
used.

As early as 1770 a parochial school was started in a building connected with the 
Dover Lutheran and Reformed Church.  At this place most of the youths of the 
vicinity received their mental training.  Early in the present century schools 
were held in the private houses of the villagers.  A house was built in the 
northern part, and another in the southwestern part of town.  They continued in 
use until they became very much dilapidated.  There arose a great contention 
about the erection of a new graded school building.  In the year 1881, during 
the same night, both old buildings were destroyed by fire, and the same year two 
new ones built on the same sites, at a combined cost of $2,200.

Near the village of Dover was a noted place for the “big musters” and other 
military parades.  The battalions drilled on the most eligible fields.  As many 
as ten or fifteen companies annually collected here during the month of May, and 
were reviewed by Brigade Inspector Archibald S. Jordon and later by Cols. Henry 
Stover, S. N. Bailey and George Hay.  The local companies, toward the last of 
militia days, were commanded by Capts. John Worley, John Sharp, Samuel Miller 
and others.  These annual gatherings ceased about 1856.  Conrad Kline, the last 
Revolutionary soldier of Dover Township, died in the village at the advanced age 
of ninety-seven years.  His remains were interred with the honors of war by a 
local volunteer company.  He was one of many brave Germans, who, early in the 
war for American independence, championed the cease of their adopted country.  
He followed the occupation of a gunsmith.