The Civil War occurred from 1861-1866. On May 24, 1861 Matthew B Nichol enlisted at Camp Wood, Quincy, Illinois and mustered the same day. He was just 20 years old and enlisted for three years. On December 23, 1863, at age 23 he re-enlisted as a veteran at Kelly's Ferry, Tennessee. He mustered on December 30, 1863 at Kelly's Ferry, Tennessee. On July 23, 1864 Matthew B Nichol transferred to the United States Engineer Regiment.

On June 24, 1852 the Nicol families of brothers, Matthew and Michael, as well as 22 year old John Nichol boarded the ship, Maine, and arrived in New Orleans, LA on October 30, 1852. Their intended designation in the U S was Texas, but they ended up in Pike County, IL. Michael was a shepherd in Scotland and a farmer in Illinois. In 1860 Illinois census Michael (55), Euphemia (Effie) (50), James (22), Christopher (18), Mathew (15), Jane (12), and Euphemia (10) plus nephew Mathew (19) lived in Hadley Township, Pike Co. Illinois. Oldest child, William, a blacksmith in Scotland, continued his trade here and was married to Elizabeth White and living in Quincy, IL in 1860. Daughter, Mary, was married to James Carroll and living in Barry, IL. A 10 year old son, Michael, died on July 10, 1852 on the journey over and was buried at sea. They were basket makers, shepherds, and bagpipe players.

The Scotch Group – Scottish Settlers in Barry, by William Walcot (WW) Watson[1], 1929:

There was a time when Barry had quite a number of Scotch residents within her borders. They began locating here about 1842. Nearly all the men were tradesmen in the old country, but in America they took up other occupations, as a rule. Some of the men brought wives and families with them. Families represented were the Nicols, Whites, Holmes, Carswell, Watson and Hamiltons, nearly all of whom had several descendants. The senior members of the Nicol family were Mathew and Michael and their wives. The two brothers came from the Highlands of Scotland and were shepherds of sheep in that country. Mathew engaged in basket making and gardening for a living after arriving here and Michael settled on a farm for a few miles southeast of town. Mathew had a two sons and a daughter, and Michael had five sons and three daughters. The children of both parents reached their majorities and resided in the neighborhood for several years, but some of them moved to the western country.

Matthew B Nichol added an "h" to his last name of Nicol.