Archibald was probably born in Carroll County, Indiana in 1845. He was one of 6 children born to Rachael (Clark) and Walker Hampton Bishop. The family lived for awhile in Money Creek, IL, then Butler, IA. He served in the Civil War, enlisting in the 32nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, in 1862 at age 18, and soldiered until 1865 (see below).

After the war in 1875 he married Alice Belinda Walker at Waitsburg, Walla Walla County, Washington Territory. They had four children between 1876 and 1890: Della, Elsie Mabel, Maude Claire and Roy Frederick Bishop. Archibald was a farmer. He died at age 46, a year after the birth of his youngest child, Roy. His daughter Della age 14, preceded him in death in 1890. He was survived by his wife Alice, daughters Maude and Elsie and son Roy, however Maude died in 1896 at age nine. His widow, Alice, later married Thomas Salvatore (no children).

Military service: Bishop, Archibald. Age 18. Nativity Indiana. Enlisted Jan. 2, 1864. Transferred to Company G, Eighth Infantry, July 28, 1865 Organized at Dubuque, Iowa; mustered in October 6, 1862. Moved to Davenport, Iowa, October 15-16; thence to St. Louis, Mo., November 21-23. Attached to District of Columbus, 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of Tennessee, to January, 1863. District of Columbus, 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, Dept. of Tennessee, to January, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Corps, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Corps, Dept. of Tennessee, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division (Detachment), Army of Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Corps, Military Division West Mississippi, to August, 1865.

Transferred from 32nd Iowa to 8th Iowa Infantry Company G 28 Jul 1865. Received a disability discharge from the 8th Iowa on 11 Apr 1866. He was a member of Alfred Sully Post No. 3 of Dayton, Columbia County, Washington.