27 Facts About Anton Docher

Anton Docher, born Antonin Jean Baptiste Docher, was a French Franciscan Roman Catholic priest, who served as a missionary to Native Americans in New Mexico, in the Southwest of the United States.

Anton Docher served 34 years with the Pueblo of Isleta and was known for defending the Indians.

Anton Docher worked briefly at Taos before he was assigned to the Pueblo of Isleta in New Mexico, where he served for 34 years until his death.

Anton Docher was born in 1852 in Le Crest, a small wine-growing village of Puy de Dome in Auvergne, France, son of Elizabeth Garce and Antoine Docher.

Anton Docher had three brothers, and their father died when they were young.

Together with his brothers and widowed mother, during his youth Anton Docher worked in the vineyards of the area.

At the age of 27, during his first year studying philosophy in the "Grand" Seminary of Clermont-Ferrand, Anton Docher was conscripted for military service.

Anton Docher was wounded and decorated with the Colonial Medal for bravery, but his experiences led him to conclude that colonialism was immoral.

Anton Docher had contracted lung disease whilst in North Africa, and returned to France after being in Indochina.

Anton Docher resumed his studies at the "Petit" Seminary as a Prefect.

Long interested in working as a missionary, on 21 October 1887, Anton Docher left France for New Mexico.

Anton Docher served two years in Bernalillo and in Taos.

In 1891 Anton Docher was transferred to the Pueblo of Isleta, arriving on 28 December of that year.

In Los Lentes, in 1893 Anton Docher acquired a massive ancient bell for the chapel, which he had installed in a prominent central belfry.

Anton Docher was a very close friend of Adolph Bandelier, an anthropologist; Charles Fletcher Lummis and Pablo Abeita, who became governor of the pueblo.

Anton Docher was known for owning a parrot named Tina, which used very foul language.

Father Anton Docher raised an Isletan orphan boy named Tomas Chavez.

Father Anton Docher paid for two girls, Stella and Margaret, to attend the Sisters of Loretto Orphanage school.

Close to the people he served, Anton Docher referred to himself as an "Indian" in the letters which he sent to his family in France.

Anton Docher presided over the funeral mass of Solomon Luna, a powerful businessman and politician of New Mexico.

Anton Docher had died mysteriously at his ranch on 30 August 1912.

In 1923, Father Anton Docher undertook a major remodeling of the San Agustin de la Isleta Mission, constructing prominent French gothic spires surmounting the adobe walls.

Anton Docher constructed a sloping roof in order to avoid the water leaks which repeatedly had damaged the altar.

Father Anton Docher was buried in the church by the side of previous missionary Father Juan de Padilla.

The life of Anton Docher was tied into the legends of Isleta.

One day, Antonin Docher decided to investigate this ghost's appearance in the presence of other witnesses and opened the grave of Padre Padilla.

Antonin Docher prayed to Padre Padilla for a cure, and the wound disappeared.