The Late James A. Nimmo

In a brief notice last week we announced the death of Captain James A. Nimmo, who died on Friday morning, Feb 23, 1883, after a violent attack of pneumonia. He was born Feb. 13, 1834 and had passed his forty-ninth year. He left a widow and four children, two of whom are grown. His wife was the daughter of Elias Dorris of Robertson County.

We have seldom recorded the death of a citizen more universally respected and beloved by our people than was the deceased. He was modest and unassuming in manner, and as gentle and kind as a woman, full of warm charity towards all, and as free from deception and hypocrisy as any one we ever knew. He literally wore "his heart upon his sleeve." He was liberally self educated, although he received only a common school training and was well read. In mathematics he was far advanced. The greater portion of his life was occupied in surveying, which brought him in contact with people all over the county. At the breaking out of the great civil war, he raised a company which was attached to the Second Tennessee Infantry, and served with marked distinction to the close. He was as much beloved by his comrades in war as he was in peace. Many incidents are related by them in his honor and the mention of one that occurs to us now will illustrate the goodness of his heart. He was upon a military court upon one occasion, trying a soldier charged with "sleeping upon his post," the penalty of which was death. The proof was clear and was presented by Judge Advocate. The poor fellow had become overcome by fatigue, and had dropped to sleep. There were some circumstances developed in the examination, which touched the heart of Nimmo, and softened it to mercy. As is well known to his friends he possessed a remarkable talent with the pencil, and could sketch almost equal to nast??? When the Judge Advocate was closing the case he rapidly sketched a picture full of grotesque situations and passed it to a member of the court next to him. It went around and its effect was happy, and as he had designed. It put the members in a good as well as merciful humor, and a verdict was rendered sparing the poor fellow's life and fixing a lower penalty. Nimmo's picture saved his life. During his long career as surveyor, he was often called to settle angry disputes about land lines, and here he always became the "peace maker." He quieted old feuds which had grown by passion almost to be vendettas. The loss of such a man is always a loss to the public.

The deceased was an old and useful member of King Solomon's lodge, of this place, of the Royal Arch Chapter of Masons, and of the Knights of Honor. The Masonic Lodge was accorded charge of his funeral, which took place at 10 o'clock last Saturday. The body was accompanied to the cemetery by a large number of our citizens, where the impressive ceremonies of the Masonic order was performed under the direction of M. S. Elkin, master of the Lodge. The deceased had a short time before death, which he looked forward to with that calm courage the had marked him through life, expressed a wish that the grand hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee" be sung at this grave by Rev. L. F. Haynes, pastor of the Methodist Church, and "Home Sweet Home" by the brethren of the Lodge. The request was complied with, and seldom have we seen a more touching and effective scene in that city of the death than when the one of those beautiful songs floated on the air, and ascended to the skies, leaving upon every heart the impress of their power.