Samuel Zenas Ammen (1843–1929) was an American Confederate veteran and journalist. He is known as the 'Practical Founder' of the Kappa Alpha Order. He was the literary editor of The Baltimore Sun and author of three books.
Early life Samuel Zenas Ammen was born on October 23, 1843, in Fincastle, Virginia.Kappa Alpha Order: Samuel Zenas AmmenJ. William Austin, II and Rebecca R. H. Austin, Related Families of Botetourt County, Virginia, Genealogical Publishing Com, 2009, p. 4 Benjamin Ammen was his father and Naomi (Cross) Ammen was his mother.
During the American Civil War of 1861–1865, Ammen served in the Confederate States Army. He enlisted in Company D ("Finchester Rifles") of the 11th Virginia Infantry on August 31, 1861, for one year of service and was discharged May 15, 1863, or May 18, 1862.documents report both dates, see: Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from Virginia units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier. (NARA M324) Roll: 0498. Military Unit: Tenth Battalion, Reserves (Fourth Battalion, Valley Reserves); Eleventh Infantry He then served with Captain William Andrew McCue's Fincastle Cavalry Company, Burks' Regiment Virginia Local Defense to do cavalry service with the Confederate Home Guard in Botetourt County.NARA M324. Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from Virginia units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier. Roll: 1062. Military Unit: Averett's Battalion, Reserves; Burks' Regiment, Local Defense; Carroll County Militia
Following the war, Ammen attended Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, where Confederate General Robert E. Lee was President.Clarence L. Mohr, Charles Reagan Wilson, The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, Volume 17: Education, Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press Books, 2011 While there, he founded the Kappa Alpha Order. He designed its ritual, accolade and prayer. He served as its second Knight Commander after John Francis Rogers for six terms. During his tenure, he helped establish twenty-two active chapters and four alumni chapters.
Career Ammen became the literary editor of The Baltimore Sun from 1881 to 1911. He was also the author of three books.
Death Ammen died on January 5, 1929, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia.
Publications
History of Maryland Commands in the Confederate Service.
Further reading HathiTrust
References