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John H. Dover was born circa June 1844. His father was born in Maryland and his mother was born in Virginia, but Dover was a Buffalo native.

He was one of 16 Buffalo men who enlisted on March 18, 1863 in the historic Company D, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of colored 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 Black soldiers as Company D demonstrated the fighting ability of Black soldiers.

Although many men died in this battle, it was instrumental in encouraging the active recruitment of Blacks to serve in the military. Their ill-fated raid of Fort Wagner was the subject of the acclaimed movie, "Glory". Dover was mustered out with the Regiment on August 30. 1865. He had reached the rank of Sergeant.

Dover is buried in a special section of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York, with 13 other Civil War veterans. The site is marked with a plaque memorializing these pioneers and each headstone has a medallion.

After the war Dover returned to Buffalo where he worked as a messenger for the Bank of Commerce and as a janitor at the GAR Hall. He also collected a government pension. He was married three times, and his two children predeceased him. At the time of his death he lived on Vermont Street with his wife Hannah. Dover died on February 8, 1932 as verified by the New York State Death Index. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in a special African American Civil War Veterans' plot. He was 88 at the time of his death. One of his former wives, Mary J. Dover is buried in a separate grave in the cemetery.