Leonard Sherman Horner, vice president and manager of the Acme Wire Company of New Haven, was born in Marshall, Virginia, March 26, 1876, his parents being Dr. Frederick and Elizabeth (Sherman) Horner. The father was also a native of Virginia, where the family was represented through many generations. Three of the family were signers of the Declaration of Independence and various representatives of the name fought in the early colonial and Revolutionary wars. The name is also prominently associated with educational interests, as one of the ancestors of Leonard S. Horner was among the founders of William and Mary College. His father, Dr. Horner, was a distinguished physician and surgeon of Virginia and during the Civil war he was a post assistant surgeon of the United States Navy. After the war he engaged in the practice of medicine in Marshall, Virginia. He made valuable contribution to the literature of the profession, being the author of several volumes which have been widely read and largely accepted as authority concerning the subjects of which they treat. He met an accidental death at Marshall, Virginia, in 1902, when sixty-seven years of age. His widow, a native of Brighton, England, comes of a prominent family of that country and is a lady of culture and refinement, still making her home in Marshall. They were the parents of four children: Mrs. John S. Bunting, of St. Louis, Missouri; Mrs. P. F. du Pont, of Wilmington, Delaware; First Lieutenant F. C. Horner, Signal Corps, United States Army, Baltimore, Maryland; and Leonard S., who is the eldest.

In his boyhood days Leonard S. Horner attended the Bethel Military Academy of Warrenton, Virginia, and afterward entered Lehigh University in South Bethlehem, Pennsyl-vania, where he completed a course in electrical engineering by graduation with the class of 1898. He joined Squadron A, New York Cavalry, as private in June, 1898, Spanish-American War; accompanied them to Porto Rico; was present with General Miles at the signing of the Protocol at Coamo; returned to New York in September, 1898; mustered out of the service, United States Army, in December, 1898. He joined Squadron A Cavalry, New York National Guard, and served five years all but a few months.

In 1899 Mr. Horner entered upon the practice of his profession with the New York Telephone & Telegraph Company and later with the American Telephone & Telegraph Company, New York city, with which company he remained in the electrical engineering con-struction department for a time. He then secured a position with the Crocker-Wheeler Company, of Ampero, New Jersey, becoming later one of the directors of that company. He moved to New Haven, Connecticut, in 1902 as manager of sales for Connecticut and in 1909 became one of the partners of the Acme Wire Company. Since then he has filled many important positions in the various departments of the business and step by step through an orderly progression has advanced to his present position as sales manager and vice president of the company. He is thus active in the management of one of the moat important industrial enterprises of New Haven, and his powers have proved adequate to the demands made upon them. One of his marked characteristics has ever been indefatigable industry, while thoroughness has also been a feature in his advancement.

In November, 1902, Mr. Horner was united in marriage to Miss Julia Stuyvesant Barry, of Warrenton, Virginia, a daughter of Major and Mrs. Robert P. Barry, the former a retired army officer, who won distinction and honorable mention for gallantry at the battle of Shiloh and also upon other southern battlefields. Mr. and Mrs. Horner have two children: Horace Mansfield, who was born in New Haven in 1903 and was graduated from the grammar school in 1917; and Helen Neilson, born in Warrenton, Virginia, in 1913.

In community affairs Mr. Horner has taken the deepest interest since becoming a citizen of New Haven. He has been a cooperant factor in the Chamber of Commerce, has served on its executive committee and has done much to further its progress and aid in the upbuilding of the city. He is a member of the American Society of Electrical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers. United States Chamber of Commerce, and the Geographic Society. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has attained the Knight Templar degree. He is a vestryman of St. Paul's church and is a member of the managerial council of the Neighborhood House of New Haven. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has membership in the Young Men's Republican Club. He also belongs to the New Haven Country Club, the New Haven Lawn Club, the Graduates Club and the Quinnipiac Club, showing that he is appreciative of the social amenities of life. He is approachable and genial, kindly in spirit and readily recognizes true worth in others. Worth and not wealth is the standard by which he judges his fellowmen. His own traits are pronounced sterling by those who know him and his business ability has brought him to the front among the leading manufacturers of New Haven.

In July, 1917, Mr. Horner was appointed as manager of one of the production division of the Aircraft Production Board, under Colonel E. A. Deeds and Colonel S. D. Waldron, and is actively engaged in securing the necessary output of airplanes and their accessories. In August, 1917, he was appointed as major in the Signal Corps, United States Army; later to chief of technical staff to Colonel E. A. Deeds, commanding officer of the Equipment Division, Signal Corps. He moved to Chevy Chase and joined the Army and Navy Club, Columbia Country Club, and Chevy Chase Country Club.