Mariposa County

Benjamin F. Howard, born in Sacramento on October 11, 1851, is serving his fourth term as county superintendent of schools in Sacramento County. Son of Marcus Jay and Jane Howard, early settlers from Vermont and Northern Ireland, Howard has significantly advanced local education. He began teaching at eighteen and was principal of Washington School in Yolo County for seven years. Elected superintendent in 1886, his tenure has seen marked improvements in school standards and enrollment. In 1881, he married Sarah Morton, a notable music teacher. Howard is active in the Native Sons of the Golden West and is a dedicated Republican.