Arena in Iowa County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Village of Dover

Photographed by Amanda Prange, July 1997

1. Village of Dover Marker

Inscription. Beginning in 1844, nearly 700 settlers were brought into this area by the British Temperance & Emigration Society, organized the previous year in Liverpool, England. By 1850 Dover boasted a hotel, post office, cooper, blacksmith, shoemaker, wagon shop and stores. When the railroad chose Mazomanie for a depot site and made no stop in Dover, Doverites moved their houses into Mazomanie and Dover faded away to become a ghost town. A local boy who made good was John Appleby, inventor of the knotter on the grain binder. The idea came to Appleby as he watched the monotonously regular movement of his mother’s hands in knitting. In 1867 he successfully demonstrated his revolutionary “contraption” in a wheat field east of the cemetery.

Erected 1953 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 7.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.

Location. 43° 9.742′ N, 89° 50.318′ W. Marker is in Arena, Wisconsin, in Iowa County.

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It is on U.S. 14 0.1 miles east of Dover Lane, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located in a wayside, about 3 miles east of Arena. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arena WI 53503, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: John F. Appleby (approx. 2.4 miles away); Mazomanie Electric Power Plant (approx. 2.4 miles away); Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Depot (approx. 2.4 miles away); Mazomanie (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Ringling Brothers (approx. 2.4 miles away); Charles Butz Store (approx. 2.4 miles away); Mazomanie Community Building (approx. 2½ miles away); The Flag on the Bluff (approx. 2½ miles away).

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

2. Village of Dover Marker

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

3. Village of Dover Marker

Looking towards north; the Dover Cemetery is just beyond this marker.

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

4. Nearby Sign

The land for this wayside was donated by Mr-Mrs John Linley Sr in memory of his parents, Mr-Mrs Herman Linley.
(The Dover Cemetery is in the background.)

Cemetery Tablet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

5. Cemetery Tablet

In Memory of All Dover Pioneers Buried Here
This community was settled by members of the British Temperance and Emigration Society of England in the year of 1843.
Cemetery restored by Dover Mothers Club 1949

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2008, by Amanda Prange of Waukesha, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 5,533 times since then and 225 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 30, 2008, by Amanda Prange of Waukesha, Wisconsin. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 23, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.