John M. Horner
Encyclopedia
John M. Horner was a key figure in the early history of southern Alameda County, California
especially what is now Fremont, California
.
Horner was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and first arrived in California on the ship Brooklyn
in a group led by Sam Brannan in 1846. Horner had been a teacher and farmer in New Jersey and quickly took up farming in California.
In 1847 he began farming in the vicinity of Mission San Jose
. Although he briefly tried mining in 1848 he realized that there was more potential in farming. By 1849 he was making a profit at selling his produce. Horner was also connected with early agricultural fairs in California designed to encourage others to be involved in growing produce.
Horner also built a building to be used as a school and meetinghouse. Although he allowed Methodists and Presbyterians to hold meetings there the main meetings conducted there at which he presided were of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This building has been called the first LDS meetinghouse in California.
Horner was also involved in the development of the Noe Valley in San Francisco.
Today there is a junior high school in Fremont, California named for Horner.
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
especially what is now Fremont, California
Fremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
.
Horner was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and first arrived in California on the ship Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in a group led by Sam Brannan in 1846. Horner had been a teacher and farmer in New Jersey and quickly took up farming in California.
In 1847 he began farming in the vicinity of Mission San Jose
Mission San José
Mission San José was founded on June 11, 1797 on a site located in the "Mission San Jose District" of Fremont, California in the "Valley of San José." The settlement was the site of the first Ceasarian section childbirth in Alta California...
. Although he briefly tried mining in 1848 he realized that there was more potential in farming. By 1849 he was making a profit at selling his produce. Horner was also connected with early agricultural fairs in California designed to encourage others to be involved in growing produce.
Horner also built a building to be used as a school and meetinghouse. Although he allowed Methodists and Presbyterians to hold meetings there the main meetings conducted there at which he presided were of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This building has been called the first LDS meetinghouse in California.
Horner was also involved in the development of the Noe Valley in San Francisco.
Today there is a junior high school in Fremont, California named for Horner.
Sources
- Cowan, Richard O.Richard O. CowanRichard Olsen Cowan is a historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a professor in the Church History Department of Brigham Young University . He is one of the longest-serving BYU faculty and the longest-serving member of the Church History Department ever.-Biography:Cowan...
and William E. Homer. California Saints: A 150-Year Legacy in the Golden State Provo, UtahProvo, UtahProvo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
: Religious Studies CenterReligious Studies CenterThe Religious Studies Center is the research and publishing arm of the Religious Education program at Brigham Young University , sponsoring scholarship on Latter-day Saint culture, history, scripture, and doctrine.-History:...
of Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, 1996. p. 144-147. - autobiography of Horner with notes based on other writings 20 or more years after his death