Ref: Here's Harper 1863-1963 pg. 69, 70, 71

In the early days of Harper the Catholics were not numerous, so they journeyed to Fredericksburg to church, a distance of 25 miles.  They had to leave Harper on Saturday morning and return on Monday, the trip being made with horses and wagon since even hacks were a rare luxury.

Reverend Father Fassbender drove forty-two miles to Harper in a one-horse gig.  It was on March 17, 1908, that a Catholic service was offered for the first time in Harper.  Seven families met at the Jacob Fiedler  house.  There, a plain table covered by a white cloth served as the alter.  There was but one glass candlestick to be found, so another had to be improvised from a bottle.  A crucifix and two holy pictures completed the setting for the Mass, the first ever to be offered in Harper.

The names of thes organizers of the present St. Anthony's Paris under date of December 13, 1908 are:
Joe Heinemann
Theodore Wahrmund
William Fiedler
George Fritz
Christian Fritz
Felix Maurer
Henry Maurer
Charles Lang
John Roeder
William Fritz
Anton Brinkrolf
Peter Petsch
Frank Wahrmund
Mrs. Joe McDonald
August Novian
Peter Roeder
John Fiedler
Henry Klein
August Fiedler
Albrecht Tatsch
Otto Petsch
Otto Fritz
John Leyendecker
William Klein
George Novian
Jacob Novian
Anton Esquell
Mrs. William Kaiser
Jacob Klein
Mrs. Louis Bierchwale
Robert Rosenbusch
Adolph Reeh
Jacob Fiedler

They decided to build a church building.  They purchased two acres of land belonging to  Henry Mund  for $175.00, $25 in cash advanced by William Pape, and the remaining $150.00 by a note bearing 8% interest.

The first church wedding was solemnized between Edwin Reeh and Ethel Colbath on September 20, 1909 by the Reverend  Father Fassbender.

The first church choir was directed by Hermann Kaiser, who played the violin.

The land for the Catholic Cemetery was purchased from Joe McDonald for $50.00  The first burial there was the infant son of  August Fiedler, on February 13, 1911.

The parish claims as its own the following, who have devoted their lives to the special service of God in the Priesthood or Religious life:

Father W. Fritz, O. M. I.
Brother Frank Lange, "Brother of Mary", S. M.
Sister Mary Francis Lange, D. P.
Sister Juliette Lange, D. P.
Sister Melissa Maurer, D. P.
Sister M. Laurina Maurer, D. P.
Sister M. Columba Maurer, D. P.
Sister M. Melania Lange, D. P.
Sister M. Daniel Fritz, D. P.
Sister M. Frances Lorine Lange, D. P.
Sister M. Daniel Fritz, D. P.
Sister M. Felix Rischner, D. P.
Reverend Father Hubert Baumann is a priest at La Coste, Texas