Samuel Zenas Ammen

Samuel Zenas Ammen (1843–1929) was an American Confederate veteran and journalist. He is known as the 'Practical Founder' of the Kappa Alpha Order.^[1] 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.^[1][2] Benjamin Ammen was his father and Naomi (Cross) Ammen was his mother.^[1][2]

During the

Following the war, Ammen attended Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, where Confederate General Robert E. Lee was President.^[6] While there, he founded the Kappa Alpha Order.^[2][6] He designed its ritual, accolade and prayer.^[2] He served as its second Knight Commander after John Francis Rogers for six terms.^[1] During his tenure, he helped establish twenty-two active chapters and four alumni chapters.^[1]

Career

Ammen became the literary editor of The Baltimore Sun from 1881 to 1911.^[1][2][3] He was also the author of three books.^[1]

Death

Ammen died on January 5, 1929, in Daytona Beach, Florida.^[1] He was buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia.^[1]

Publications

• Ammen, Samuel Zenas (1876). A Latin grammar for beginners combining the analytic and synthetic methods, containing the inflections, the more important principles of syntax, ... parsing and analysis, and vocabulary. New York: Lange, Little & Co.^[1]
• Ammen, Samuel Zenas (1886). The caverns of Luray: an illustrated guide-book to the caverns, explaining the manner of their formation, their peculiar growths, their geology, chemistry, etc. Philadelphia: Allen, Lane & Scott's Printing House.^[1]
• History of Maryland Commands in the Confederate Service.^[1]

Further reading

• Doty, William Kavanaugh (1922). Samuel Zenas Ammen and the Kappa Alpha Order. Charlottesville, Virginia: Surber-Arundale Co.^[7]

References