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. Benjamin Ammen was his father and Naomi (Cross) Ammen was his mother. 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. 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.

Following the war, Ammen attended Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, where Confederate General Robert E. Lee was President. While there, he founded the Kappa Alpha Order.