Samuel Alman

Samuel Alman was born February 6, 1844 in Wales. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1854 as an apprentice and served until 1868. He was at the Washington Navy Yard when Lincoln was shot and was one of the few men who knew of the final disposition of J. Wilkes Booth's body, but he was sworn to secrecy. At one time he was commander-in-chief of the National Association of Naval Veterans, holding the title of Admiral. He was also chaplain of the G.A.R. and the Farragut Association of Naval Veterans. After two years of service with the United States Government, he resigned and became an evangelist, taking charge of the mission that later became Emmanuel Baptist Church in Manhattan. He was ordained in the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in 1871 and continued serving as pastor of Emmanuel Baptist church until 1899. He wrote many hymns and compiled two hymnals. He died in June 12, 1911, in New York.

Dianne Shapiro, from obituary, "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle," 14 June 1911