Discover the stories of our most well-known permanent residents.
John H. Dover died on February 8, 1932. He was born circa June 1846. Both of his parents were born in Kentucky, but Dover was a Buffalo native. He was one of 16 men from Buffalo who enlisted in the historic Company D, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of African American soldiers during the Civil War. Dover served as a private initially in Company D, and saw action at Fort Wagner. The battle at Fort Wagner was a milestone for African American soldiers, as Company D demonstrated their fighting ability. Although many men died in this battle, it was instrumental in encouraging the active recruitment of African Americans to serve in the military. Their ill-fated raid of Fort Wagner was the subject of the Academy Award winning movie, "Glory". Dover was mustered out with the Regiment on August 30. 1865. He had reached the rank of Sergeant. After the war, Dover returned to Buffalo where he worked as a messenger for the Bank of Commerce and as a janitor at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall. He was married three times, and his two children predeceased him. John H. Dover is buried in section 14 in Forest Lawn with 13 other African American Civil War veterans. The site is marked with a plaque memorializing these pioneers.