Father Nelson Baker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nelson Henry Baker (February 16, 1841 - July 29, 1936) was a Roman Catholic priest and church administrator in the Buffalo, New York area. He is given credit for construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory (opened 1936) in Lackawanna, New York and developed Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity, a Catholic agency operating facilities that range from a training school to a home for unwed pregnant mothers.
His life experience included a period as a Union soldier during the Civil War and a time in the feed and grain business before he chose to enter the priesthood. He is variously recalled as "a humble priest" and, in the context of his charities and fund-raising, "a shrewd businessman".
Honored in his home community as "Buffalo's most influential citizen of the 20th century" and with his name given to a major bridge on New York State Route 5, he has also received church honours, both during his lifetime (the title of Monsignor) and since his death (the title Servant of God). He has been proposed for canonization (sainthood).
