Horace R. Christmas, of Kemmerer, has figured prominently in connection with law practice and with political affairs in Lincoln county and is now a member of the law firm of H. E. & H. R. Christmas, enjoying an extensive practice at the bar of his district.
    He was born in Grand Haven, Michigan, January 28, 1882, and is a son of Horace E. and Margaret J. (Leggett) Christmas. The father was a native of Alton, England, and in young manhood crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He had pursued his early law studies in England and he continued his preparation for the bar after becoming a resident of Michigan, being admitted to practice in that state and later in Wyoming. He has since been very prominent in legal circles in Wyoming and is numbered among the representative and honored lawyers of Lincoln county. He has one of the largest and finest law libraries to be found in his portion of the state and has well appointed law offices. His practice has always been of an important character and has constantly grown and developed with the settlement of this section of the state. He has received the appointment of United States commissioner and is filling the position at the present time in connection with his professional activities and duties. For ten years after his removal to the west he was in the service of the Union Pacific Coal Company at Rock Springs, Wyoming, which position he resigned to accept that of assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Rock Springs. He acted in that capacity until 1894, when he was admitted to the bar of Wyoming and entered upon the practice of his chosen profession. In October. 1898, he took up his abode in Kemmerer and upon the incorporation of the city was chosen city attorney. He also became city attorney of Diamondville upon its incorporation.
    Mr. Christmas has figured prominently in connection with the Wyoming National Guard and has been very active in military circles. He holds a commission with the rank of colonel. Colonel Christmas was married in Michigan to Miss Margaret J. Leggett. of Grand Haven, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom Horace R. of this review is the eldest. The others are: J. A., living in Kemmerer; C. A., who is engaged in the drug business in Kemmerer; Mrs. W. J. Witherspoon, whose husband is a hardware merchant of Kemmerer; and Margaret, Marjorie, Frank M. and Cornelia, all of whom are at home.
    In his boyhood days Horace R. Christmas was a pupil in the schools of Rock Springs. Wyoming. and continued his education under private instruction until he entered the University of Wyoming while subsequently he became a student in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. There he pursued his law course and was graduated with the class of 1908. He then returned to his father's home in Kemmerer and entered into partnership with his father under the present firm style of H. E. & H. R. Christmas. They rank with the leading attorneys of Wyoming. The young man had the benefit of the experience and training of his father and thus started upon his professional career under exceptionally favorable circumstances. They are both members of the Wyoming Bar Association and of the American Bar Association.
    On the 12^th of September, 1917. Mr. Christmas was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia Stayner. of Salt Lake City, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Stayner, who are still residents of Salt Lake City. The father is a well known instructor in music and a prominent composer, having published many fine compositions.
    Fraternally Mr. Christmas is a thirty-second degree Mason and is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Rock Springs. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he was called upon to represent his district in the state legislature in 1911. He has also served as district court commissioner and his record is in harmony with that of his honored father, who has long figured as one of the prominent citizens of Wyoming. The firm ranks among the foremost lawyers of the state and the record of the young man has added new lustre to an untarnished family name.