In 1873 this rural area became known as Sparr, named after Phillip Sparr, a minister and was originally part of Livingston Township. By 1879 this area was split off from Livingston Township due to growth. A newly formed township was called "Dover" and the business hub for Dover Township was the greater Sparr area.

The area was a bustling community. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, the residents of the area could support three general stores (the Hanley Store, the Wolf Store and the Dipzinski Store). The community had a blacksmith shop, ice house, a meat market, livery stable, creamery, two schools (Dover #1 (Marquardt School) and Dover #2 (Sparr School)), and a hotel. By 1915 the Sparr Post Office began operations and delivered mail as far north as the Marquardt School. Bumper crops of potatoes required storage so Dover Township had three potato warehouses in the train depot area. Although the community never had a formal church building, the Sparr School (Dover #2 School) served a dual purpose. The Rural Bible Ministry led church services in that school on Sundays until 1960.

For entertainment the community mustered its own baseball team (with uniforms) and could support three dance halls, two located near Whitehouse Trail and the other located off of Marquardt Road just north of Sparr Road. The general area was home to six lumber camps and several saw mils. Dover Township even had one of the first "subdivisions" in the county. Along the Boyne City-Gaylord-Alpena Railroad Company's (BGA) tracks, just west of Sparr, there were many slab wood and tar paper shacks where families from Kentucky lived, families that resettled to the area for employment. This area was known by the locals as "Kentucky Town".

The Sparr area served as a railroad spur for logging trains that originated near Sailing on the east side of Otsego Lake (south of Gaylord), traveling east and north through the town of Quick, and ending in Sparr. The Boyne City-Gaylord-Alpena Railroad Company (BGA) line ran directly through this community, making stops in Sparr to serve passengers, transport freight (mainly lumber, chemical wood and potatoes), and to replenish the water needed by those large steam engines that ran between Boyne City and Alpena or the smaller steam engines running between the different logging operations in the greater Dover Township area.

Most roads and trails led to settlers' farms or other landmarks resulting in elected officials eventually naming these roads after those places. Marquardt Road was named after Herman Marquardt whose farm was located just north of the original township hall. Dipzinski Road was named after Frank and Michaelena Dipzinski and two of their sons (John and Raymond); all living on farms either on or very close to what is called Dipzinski Road. The trail that heads north from Sparr to the north end of the township had a white house at the end, thus naming the trail "Whitehouse Trail". Three miles north of Sparr was a two track heading west, ending at the Seymore farm at the base of the first hill resulting in that road's name becoming "Seymore Road".

Water was scarce in the northern hills of the community. A trough was built on the south side of Sparr Road, west of Marquardt Road, channeling flowing water from the headwaters of the Pigeon River. Farmers could travel 3-4 miles with a horse and wagon to get water for their farms located in the hill area from that elevated trough. Eventually the township drilled a deep water well by the township hall and installed an unrestricted water faucet by it, allowing local farmers to only travel to the township hall for water.

Dover Township is frequently referred to as one of the gateway communities to the Pigeon River Country State Forest. In the early days, and still today, the area abounds with white tail deer, black bear, Rocky Mountain Elk, coyotes, badgers and bobcat. The cold clear waters of the Pigeon River are filled with trout and the beavers and otters do their part along the river's bank in that circle of life found in nature. Bad eagles circle above the tree line of the forests, hunting for a meal or teaching their fledglings to fly and hunt.

When the one-room school house system ended, the Marquardt School was purchased by Dover Township because of its excellent condition. Township offices moved across the street to their new home and the original township hall eventually went into private ownership.

As the lumbering era was ending, jobs became scarce. The railroad was abandoned and the post office closed in 1932. People moved to other communities to find work. However, if you review the property ownership in the greater Dover Township area you will find the names of descendants of the original settlers of the area.

Today, there is one general store still serving the community. It is known as the "Sparr Mall". This general store has its original wooden floor and wooden shelves along the inside perimeter. Locals can purchase the necessities for life in this rural area, always served in friendship and with a smile. Within its 35.3 square mile area there are only 614 residents recorded in the last census.

One of the other general stores, the Dover #2 (Sparr School), the creamery station and the original township hall are now all in private ownership as homes or a seasonal residence. Another general store is a private garage. Dover #1 (Marquardt School) was converted to the Dover Township hall. The blacksmith shop, livery, hotel and the ice house are businesses of the past. The only visual awareness that trains traveled through the area in years past come from abandoned raised track beds, a few wooden rail ties or iron spikes found along the old track area. Flora and fauna remain strong.

Buildings and employment may have changed over the years but the people who live in the area have not. The residents who live in Dover Township remain hardworking, creative, determined, compassionate and always willing to help others. They are patriotic, bold and logical in thought. It is a tight community, always aware of its past, enjoying the present and looking forward to the future.