Member-only story
Santa Claus Was A Missouri Ditch Digger Who Became Famous During The Great Depression
A real man was given the name of Santa Claus when born and eventually grew into personifying his famous namesake
Santa Claus is one of the most indelible figures in the world. Father Christmas is adored by numerous children and adults for his symbolic role in keeping the holiday’s cheer and good will front and center every year. There have been countless Santa impersonators and those claiming to be the real thing over the years. However, one Missouri laborer proved to be the real thing, as that was his given name and he came to prominence during the Great Depression by growing into the role of his namesake.
Santa Claus was born on April 4, 1888 in Saline County, Missouri to William and Henrietta Claus, a farming couple. Literally named Santa by his parents, he later recalled, “My father had a sense of humor.”
Living in a rural area and working a menial job, Claus largely operated outside the sphere of recognition besides local teasing. That all changed in 1929 when he broke his leg while working on the Missouri River. The accident, combined with his unusual name, which made it impossible for him to cash a check or even check into a hospital without difficulty, made headlines…
