John M. Horner

John Meirs Horner (1821–1907) was a key figure in the early history of San Francisco and southern Alameda County, California, especially what is now Fremont, California, and Union City.

Early life John Meirs Horner was born on June 15, 1821, in Monmouth, New Jersey to Stacy and Sarah Horner (née Johnson). He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having been baptized Aug 2, 1840, by Erastus Snow. He was serving in New Jersey on Joseph Smith's presidential campaign when he learned Smith had been killed.

San Francisco Horner was one of the Mormons who were passengers on the ship The Brooklyn that sailed into Yerba Buena (early name for San Francisco) in 1846. In 1854, Horner purchased a portion of the Rancho San Miguel from José de Jesús Noé, in what is called the western Mission District of San Francisco and parts of Noe Valley.

Death and legacy He died on May 14, 1907, at age 91 in Kukaiau, Hamakua, Hawaii where he had managed the Kukaiau Plantation Company starting in 1884.

John M. Horner Middle School in Fremont, California is his namesake.