My Horner branch definitely comes from the Hornerstown area in Upper Freehold, NJ and is always spelled Horner. I expect there will be some variation going back further, as I suspect the family originally came from England or Germany.

My branch, I believe, starts with Joseph (b. 1819) Horner and Elizabeth (b, 1815) born and married somewhere in New Jersey, presumeably Monmouth County (probably Upper Freehold).

Their son, William H (b. 26 Oct 1849) married Annie Nowlan (or Nolan - b. 4 Nov 1849 in NY of Irish parents) and had William A. Horner (b. 2 May 1873 in Smithburg, Upper Freehold, Monmouth, NJ). Siblings were: Laura, George, Clara Bell, Albert and Fred.

William A. married Ezilphia (Zilph) Burke (b. May 1885 in Webbsville, Ocean, NJ) and had Harold Thompson Horner (b. 21 Mar 1906 in Upper Freehold, Monmouth, NJ). Harold married Josephine Lange (b. 1908 in Cologne/Dussledorf, Germany) in Asbury Park, NJ and had Frank Burke Horner (b. 29 Aug, 1930 in Anna May Hosp., Neptune, NJ). I am Frank's daughter.

My grandmother, Josephine Lange (b. 1908 in Cologne/Dussledorf, Germany), was adopted by an aunt Marie Lange (m. to Louis P Croce) in Asbury Park. She had a natural sister, Henrietta (b. abt 1910-1912 in Germany) and two step/half siblings, Sophie (b. 1893 in Germany) and William (b. 1898 in Germany). Marie Lange Croce had four siblings: Martha, Bertha, Fredrich and Henry. Not much else is known about the original family in Koln.

Please let me know if anyone has a connection...