He was 24 years old when he was enrolled (15, 14 [42 in 1880], 19, 24 [32 in 1870], 27 [46 in ?1884], 28 [46 in ?1884], 30 [50 in 1884], 32 [70 at death in 1908]). He was born in January 1838, at Lanarkshire, Scotland (14, 19, 23, 24, 25 [PA], 27 [PA], 28 [PA], 30 [PA], 32).
He immigrated to the United States in 1852, and was a naturalized citizen by 1900 (23). His friend John Shiel immigrated the next year, because he wanted to be with Nimmo (29).
In 1860, he was living in the 22nd ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Hugh Boyd (and many other people!) (16). He was 22 years old, had been born in Scotland, and was a weaver (16).
He was a weaver (15). He was living in Philadelphia when he was enrolled (15).
He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and black hair (15, 19). He had a scar in the center of his forehead (19).
He was enrolled and mustered into service on 2 December 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 2, 15, 19, 21, 31, 33). He was enrolled for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Lieutenant Parsons (19). He served as a private, initially in company K (1).
He was transferred on 24 December 1861 to company C (1, 22, 33).
He was promoted to corporal on 27 April 1862 (17).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 24 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia (1, 15).
He was called "the fighting parson", because he was a Presbyterian preacher (29).
He was promoted on 1 April 1864 to sergeant (6, 18).
He was wounded on 18 June 1864 at Petersburg Virginia, while carrying the 91st's flag (1, 3, 4, 29). Sellers said he deserved a medal of honor "for conspicuous gallantry" in carrying the flag, which he apparently did not receive (3).
On 19 November 1864, Sellers recommended that he receive a brevet appointment, effective 18 June 1864, for meritorious conduct in carrying the colors on that day (7).
On 26 March 1865, he was promoted to regimental quartermaster sergeant, effective 1 March 1865 (1, 8, 15, 26).
He was promoted on 1 May 1865 to quartermaster (1, 5, 15 [30 May 65], 18, 31).
On 20 May 1865, John Allen was relieved of the duties of acting regimental quartermaster, and ordered to turn over all public property to Nimmo, the regimental quartermaster (9). Nimmo was also authorized to receive and issue ordnance and ordnance stores (9).
On 26 May 1865, he went on a leave, which expired on 10 June 1865 (13, citing SO 114 HQ 5th Corps). He returned on 11 June 1865 (13).
On 26 June 1865, William Carpenter was detailed as acting regimental quartermaster, because Nimmo had been appointed A[cting] A[ssistant?] Q[uarter] M[aster] of the 5 Corps (10).
On 6 July 1865, he was ordered to receipt to William Chandler for all public property in his possession, when Chandler was relieved as acting regimental quartermaster (11).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with the regiment (1, 2, 5, 15, 21). He had served for 42 months (27, 28, 30).
On 2 July 1866, he applied successfully for a pension (2, 31, 33).
In 1870, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (24). He was a machine manufacturer, and owned $150 in personal property (24). He was living with his wife Sallie (24).
In 1880, he was a beamer, living at 102 Huntingdon Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14). His wife, Sallie Nimmo, was 37, born in Pennsylvania, and keeping house (14). Two children were living with them (14):
A servant, Jane Haughy, 59, born Ireland, was also living with them (14).
On 22 September 1884, he was admitted to the National Home, Southern Branch (25, 27, 28, 30). He was admitted from Virginia (27, 28, 30). He had a wound in his right leg (27, 28). He was receiving a pension of $8 per month (27).
In 1885, he was living at the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Southern Branch (25). He was a wound in his right leg (25). He was 46 years old (25). He received a pension of $6 per month (25).
In 1890, he was living at the National Soldiers Home, Southern Branch, in Elizabeth City County, Virginia (21). He had had a wound in his right leg (21).
On 23 January 1893, he was discharged from the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home (28). He was reeiving a pension of $6 per month (28).
In 1895, he was present in the Southern Branch of the National Soldiers Home (27).
In 1900, he was still living at the National Soldiers Home, Southern Branch, in Elizabeth City County, Virginia (23). He was a widower (23). He was a beamer (23).
In 1904, he was present at the Southern Branch of the National Home (30). He was receiving a pension of $12 per month (30). He had a wound in his right leg (30).
According to his friend John Shiel, he wrote many beautiful poems (29).
He lived at 422 Berks street for the last year of his life, and spent much time with his old friend John Shiel (29).
He again applied for a pension on 24 January 1908 (2, 31, 33).
He died of alcoholism on 22 May 1908, at 422 Berks Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12, 32). The funeral was held on 25 May 1908, from 1739 Germantown Avenue (29, 32). He was buried on 25 May 1908 in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania (12, 29, 32).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster.)
2 pension index, by regiment (Archibald Nimmo)
3 letter, Sellars, 24 December 1864
4 Advance the colors, p.314
6 special order 31, HQ 91st PA, 1 April 1864
7 letter, Sellers to Bartlett, 19 November 1864
8 special order 22, HQ 91st PA, 26 March 1865 (Archibald Nimmo)
9 special order 27, HQ 91st PA, 20 May 1865 (Archd Nimmo)
10 special order 37, HQ 91st PA, 26 June 1865
11 special order 40, HQ 91st PA, 6 July 1865
12 West Laurel Hill cemetery records, on http://www.thefinalwalt.com (thanks to Amy Waltz!) (Archibald Nimmo)
13 undated officers' furlough list, in regimental letter, order, guard, and furlough book (Archd Nimmo)
14 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 381, microfilm series T9, film 1179, page 460 = 4D handwritten (Archibald Nimmo)
15 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 18 May 2004 (Archibald Nimmo) [This refers to special order 215, War Department, "dated 9-19-85"]
16 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 22, district 1, page 37, line 15 (Archd Nime)
17 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 1, corporals (Archibald Nimmo)
18 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 2, sergeants (Archibald Nimmo)
19 company C, descriptive roll, entry 99 (Archibald Nimmo)
20 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 68 (Archibald Nimmo)
21 1890 US census, Virginia, Elizabeth City County, National Soldiers Home, page [13], line 2 AND page 117 (image 111 on <www.ancestry.com>) line 35 (Archibald Nimmo)
22 company K, list of men transferred, #12 (Archibald Nimmo)
23 1900 US census, Virginia, Elizabeth City County, Chesapeake Magisterial District, Southern Branch National Home, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 8, page 97=handwritten sheet 5, line 26 (Archibald Nimmo)
24 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, microfilm series M593, film 1413, page 249 = 193 handwritten (Arch Nimmo)
25 National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Report of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report of the said board for the year ending June 30, 1885. January 7, 1886. Serial Set volume 2415, session volume 10, 49th Congress, 1st Session, House Miscellaneous Document 38, page 173 (Archibald Nimmd [sic])
26 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 27 March 1865 (Sergt Nimmo)
27 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1895. Serial Set volume 3412, session volume 45, 54th Congress, 1st Session. House Document 42 (in 3 parts). Part III, page 131. (Arch'bld Nimmo)
28 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893. Serial Set volume 3151, session volume 1, 53rd Congress, 1st Session. House Miscellaneous Document 35. Page 717. (Arch'd Nimmo)
29 'Dead Comrade is praised by invalid', Philadelphia Inquirer, 24 May 1908, page 8 (Archibald Nimmo)
30 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1904. Serial Set volume 4835. Session volume 56, 58th Congress, 3rd Session. House Document 71. Page 413 (A Nimnio [sic])
31 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (Archibald Nimmo)
32death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 22 May 1908 (Archibald Nimmo)
33 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (Archibald Nimmo)
[I did not find him in the index to pension index cards on <www.ancestry.com> (searched June 2005)
| line | 15 | 16 |
| Dwelling-house number | 166 | |
| Family number | 193 | |
| Name | Nimmo Arch | Sallie |
| Age | 32 | 28 |
| Sex | M | F |
| Color | W | W |
| Occupation | Machine Manufacturer | Keep house |
| Real estate value | ||
| Personal estate value | $150 | |
| Birthplace | Scotland | Penna |
| Father foreign born | 1 | |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | |
| Birth month if born within year | ||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||
| Attended school past year | ||
| Can't read | ||
| Can't write | ||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | |
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 |
| street name | Huntingdon St | ||||
| house number | 102 | ||||
| dwelling visit # | 33 | ||||
| family visit # | 40 | ||||
| name | Nimmo Archibald | - Sallie | - Paul | - Mary | Haughy Jane |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | W | M | F | F |
| age | 42 | 37 | 9 | 4 | 59 |
| month born if born in year | |||||
| relationship | Wife | Son | Daughter | Boarder | |
| single | 1 | 1 | |||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | ||||
| married during year | |||||
| occupation | Beamer | Keeping House | At School | Servant | |
| months unemployed | |||||
| currently ill? | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||
| idiotic | |||||
| insane | |||||
| disabled | |||||
| school this year | 1 | ||||
| can't read | |||||
| can't write | |||||
| birthplace | Scotland | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Ireland |
| father's birthplace | Scotland | England | Scotland | Scotland | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Scotland | England | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Ireland |
| line | 26 |
| street | |
| house number | |
| dwelling number | |
| family number | |
| name | Nimmo Archibald |
| relationship | Inmate |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| birth date | Jany 1838 |
| age | 62 |
| married? | Wd |
| # years married | |
| mother of how many children? | |
| # of children living | |
| birthplace | Scotland |
| father's birthplace | Scotland |
| mother's birthplace | Scotland |
| immigration year | 1852 |
| # years in USA | 48 |
| naturalized citizen? | Na |
| occupation | Beamer |
| # months not employed | |
| # months in school | |
| can read | yes |
| can write | yes |
| speaks English | yes |
| owned/rented | |
| free or mortgaged | |
| farm/house | |
| # of farm schedule |
Though he will be unable on account of his illness and advanced age, to attend the funeral services of his life long friend, Captain Archibald Nimmo, yet anxious to pay him tribute, John Shiel, of 1735 North Fifth street, yesterday spoke of his comrade of years, praising his record in the Civil War.
Mr. Shiel is feeble and bedridden and he spoke with much difficulty.
"We were boys together in Scotland 70 years ago," he said, "and very well I remember when he came to America in 1853. I could not long be separated from him, so I came over in 1854. When Lincoln called for volunteers, we gave up our quiet domestic life and enlisted. He was drafted into the Ninety-first Pennsylvania Volunteers and his whole record through the war was one of the utmost gallantry. He was badly wounded in the leg, while making a sortie to recover our flag, that had fallen into the hands of the enemy during the battle of Petersburg, Va., June 18. They made him a captain for that. After the war he was honorably discharged. Of late years he was in the Soldiers' Home, but he left there and went back to his old trade of weaving.
"The boys all used to call him 'The Fighting Parson,' for he was a Presbyterian preacher, and was also of a literary turn of mind. He has written a great many beautiful poems. He used to say I would never make a poet, but I tried."
Captain Nimmo has been living at 422 Berks street for a year and the two old veterans were together much of the time. He is survived by a daughter and a son who lives in Easton, Pa. Interment will be made at Laurel Hill tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. He will be given the full honors of a military funeral.