Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Horner, Edward 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 1:49 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Edward Horner, senior member of the firm of E. Horner & Son, dealers in 
pianos, organs and musical merchandise, was born April 2, 1823, in Wakefield, 
Yorkshire, England. His father, Frank Horner, was a native of Yorkshire and 
was a professional musician, playing the cello and singing in concert. He died 
in August, 1853, in Thornhill, Yorkshire, and was 68 years old. The mother, 
Ellen (Rowley) Horner, was about 63 years old when she died (in 1854), in her 
native county of Yorkshire. Five of their eight children are living. George is 
a farmer in Greene Co., Iowa, and has acquired some reputation as a violinist. 
Jesse enlisted in the War for the Union, in the 38th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was 
taken prisoner at the battle of Murfreesbbro, and died of the concentrated 
miseries and sufferings at Andersonville! John is a dry-goods merchant at 
Queensbury, Yorkshire, and he is also a musician. Bessie is the wife of 
Charles Baxendale, a game-keeper on Breton Hall's estate in Yorkshire, 
England. When he was 15 years of age, Mr. Horner engaged in the business of a 
wool-sorter, in which he was occupied until he was 24 years old. At that date 
he obtained an appointment as receiving clerk in the Wakefield prison and 
officiated in that capacity four years. After the expiration of his engagement 
he resumed his former employment. In July, 1854, he came to the United States. 
He at first located at Lincoln, Ill., where he spent a few months. He went 
thence to the lead mines of Jo Daviess County, where he spent seven years in 
prospecting. He went next to Mt. Carroll, and he embarked in the sale of Mason 
& Hamlin organs and the Vose & Co. pianos. After operating there seven years, 
he went to Depere, Wis., where he conducted a music store between two and 
three years. In 1870 he came to Morrison and opened his present business, 
which he has since continued to pursue. He is a musician of more than ordinary 
ability, and has engaged in teaching to a considerable extent, as have his 
sons. His whole family are educated in music. Mr. Horner was married Sept. 1, 
1847, in the Halifax Cathedral, Yorkshire, England, to Anna Ellis, and they 
have had seven children, of whom but two are living. Sarah A. was born June 4, 
1848, and died Nov. 4, 1864; Matilda was born Aug. 19, 1849, and died Oct. 9, 
1852; Frank was born April 27, 1851, and died April 2, 1852; Henry is a dealer 
in music and sewing-machines at Marengo, Ill. He was born Oct. 26, 1852. Alice 
was born April 3, 1854, and died Oct. 31, 1864; Mary, born Oct. 16, 1860, died 
July 10, 1863; Samuel, born Oct. 19, 1857 is in business with his father. He 
is the leader of the Morrison Band and is a fine pianist. The members of the 
firm of E. Horner & Co. deal in American, English and German musical 
publications, and make a specialty of Peek & Sons (N. Y.) pianos. They handle 
the organs of George Wood & Co. and those of Hillstrom & Co., which are 
manufactured at Chesterton, Ind.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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