Christmas family to gather in Santa Claus
Many families host reunions during the summer months, but few families can boast that they have “Christmas in July.” But for the family of Donna Christmas, those words hold true.
The second “Christmas in July” family reunion will be held in Santa Claus, Ind., on July 21.
Donna Christmas explains, “The first Christmas in July Family Reunion was held on July 22 and 23, 2011, in Warrenton, N.C. The town of Warrenton was selected as the location for the reunion because the town was laid out by surveyor William Christmas in July of 1779. Christmas was also hired by Daniel Boone to lay out Boonesborough, Ky.”
According to Donna, many Christmas descendants live in Tennessee. Additionally, two towns in Carroll County, Tenn., were named after a Christmas descendant. McLemoresville and Christmasville were named after John Christmas McLemore, son of Nathaniel and Ann Pealer Christmas McLemore.
He was also a co -founder of Memphis after he bought Andrew Jackson’s land in 1824. He later bought more land in the area. He was surveyor general and laid out a city on the highest bluff (Fort Pickering), which became Chickasaw City in 1861. Just a few years later, that area became part of Memphis.
Last year’s Christmas in July family reunion was attended by about 55 Christmas descendants, coming from California, Washington, New York, Maryland, Indiana, Virginia and North Carolina.
Donna adds, “Those who attended the reunion had a wonderful time telling stories about their ancestors. Participants also viewed charts showing descendants of the first Christmas ancestor to come to the United States. In addition, they learned that they were distantly related to three presidents — George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.”
Many relatives who attended in 2011 said they would come to Santa Claus, Ind., for the 2012 event. So, it is hoped that the 2012 Christmas Family Reunion will be even larger than last year.
If you are a Christmas descendant and would like to know more about the event, e -mail donna christmas@sbcglobal.net or call (317) 462-0048.