Biography:

Attorney, journalist. Born– Feb. 25, 1839 in Barbour (now Russell) Co. Parents– Benjamin and Morning (Drake) Screws. Married– Emily F. Holton Apr. 25, 1867. Children– Three. Education– studied law in Montgomery law offices; admitted to bar in 1859. Practiced law until 1861; served in Confederate Army, 1861-65; purchased Montgomery Advertiser in  1865, becoming president and editor-in-chief; used paper to expose corruption in state Reconstruction government and to oppose Farmer’s Alliances and issuance of Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad bonds; Alabama secretary of state 1878-1882; employed at Library of Congress in President Cleveland’s first term; postmaster at Montgomery 1893-1897.

Source:

Marquis Who’s Who online.

Publication(s):

“Alabama Journalism” in Memorial Records of Alabama. Madison, Wisc.; Brant & Fuller, 1893.