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.
Samuel Zenas Ammen | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 23, 1843 |
| Died | January 5, 1929 (aged 85) |
| Resting place | Oak Grove Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia |
| Education | Washington and Lee University |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Parent(s) | Benjamin Ammen Naomi (Cross) Ammen |
Early life
editSamuel 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 American Civil War of 1861–1865, Ammen served in the Confederate States Army.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
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
editAmmen 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
editAmmen died on January 5, 1929, in Daytona Beach, Florida.[1] He was buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia.[1]
Publications
edit- 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
edit- Doty, William Kavanaugh (1922). Samuel Zenas Ammen and the Kappa Alpha Order. Charlottesville, Virginia: Surber-Arundale Co.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kappa Alpha Order: Samuel Zenas Ammen
- ^ a b "One of the Family". The Baltimore Sun. January 8, 1929. p. 14. Retrieved June 2, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ a b 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 [2]
- ^ HathiTrust