He served as state superintendent of common schools in 1855 and 1857 - 1859.

He was the state superintendent of public instruction from 1899 to 1903.

"The time has come to take a stand," a local school board chairman who was running for state superintendent of education proclaimed.

The order also created the powerful post of state superintendent to operate the district with total authority for five years.

He announced his candidacy for state superintendent in September 2001.

He then served the state as the state superintendent of education from 1898 to 1902.

The 1874 report to the State Superintendent went on to say that there were only three school houses in the entire county and 25 teachers.

During the trial, a new state superintendent was elected.

He was also the first African-American in the nation to be elected state superintendent of schools.

He lost in another bid for state superintendent of public instruction in 1938.