John M. Horner (1821-1907) 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.[1]
Horner was also involved in the development of the Noe Valley in San Francisco.[2]
Today there is a junior high school in Fremont, California named for Horner.