Historical Marker Program

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Red Fork Ranch 1872–1889

Kingfisher County
Location: 200 East Redfork Drive in Dover
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): Citizens and Friends of Dover, 1998
Topics: Agriculture; Indian and Frontier Trade; Land Openings; Ranching; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

On this site once stood the trading post known as the Red Fork Ranch. The original ranch building was constructed in 1872 by the Lee and Reynolds Company. Over the following years, the ranch was operated by a number of different individuals, the last being John G. Chapin, who was operating the ranch when the Unassigned Lands were opened on April 22, 1889. Chapin formally claimed the homestead which included the townsite of Dover and which was platted by him in 1892. John Chapin could well be characterized as "the father of Dover".