GEORGE W. HORNER was born in New Jersey in November of 1847 to Thomas and Lizzie Horner. The date, derived from the 1900 Census, is in question, other censuses have him younger, the 1920 Census has him being three years older.

The 1860 Census shows the Horner family, which included a younger sister, Laura, living in Camden's Middle Ward. The family lived three doors away from tobacconist Abner B. Sparks, whose son David Sparks was the same age as George Horner. The two would be appointed to the Camden Fire Department within a month of each other in 1872 and would serve side-by-side as extra men with the Hook and Ladder Company, known more recently as Ladder Company 1, for several years.
 

The 1870 Census shows that George Horner and his family were living in Camden's North Ward. George Horner was single and working selling lightning rods, a business he would return to in the late 1870s. 

George Horner was living at 731 Federal Street and working as a packer, when, on May 8, 1872 he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, as a Driver with the Hook and Ladder Company, known more recently as Ladder Company 1, replacing Charles Elfreth, who had been discharged. In October of 1872 he was made an extra man with the same Company, and continued in that capacity until the April of 1877. He had started a lightning rod business.

George Horner was still living at 731 Federal Street, with his parents, sister Laura, brother-in-law Daniel A. Carter and their children Mabel and Frank when the census was taken in 1880. Daniel A. Carter was elected Chief of the Camden Fire Department in 1882. George Horner, however, did not return to the Fire Department. Instead, he was made a policeman, a career he followed well into the 1910s.

The 1887 and 1888 Camden City Directories both show George W. Horner at 733 Federal Street. By 1894 he had moved to 737 Federal Street. The 1900 Census shows George Horner still at 737 Federal Street. with widowed mother, sister Laura and her husband Daniel A. Carter and their children. Laura and Daniel Carter separated in the early 1900s. George Horner and his sister and her children were still at 737 Federal Street as late as 1906. By 1910 George Horner had moved to 109 North 8th Street, with his sister Laura and niece Laura V. Carter. He was still a policeman.

On February 26, 1912 veteran police officers George Horner, William Harvey, and Benjamin Middleton retired from active service with the Camden Police Department.

The 1914 Camden City Directory states that George Horner was now a "Special Officer", although, as stated above, he had long since retired as a regular member of the Camden Police Department. He was living at 432 Lawrence Street, and apparently had finally married. The 1920 Census shows George and Amanda A. Horner at 432 Lawrence Street with Amanda's son from a previous marriage, William L.S. Allen. George Horner appears to have finally retired. He passed away on September 24, 1920. His widow was still at the Lawrence Street address in1924.