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Jasper County, Iowa

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 Nobel J. Fugard

 A citizen of Newton who has earned well merited success is Noble J. Fugard, for his life has been led along conservative, industrious and honorable lines and he has ever sought to do his full duty as a citizen.  He is of German descent and a native of the old Buckeye state, his birth having occurred in Mercer County, Ohio, April 6, 1862, and he is the son of John M. and Clara (Tindall) Border, he having been adopted into the Fugard family.  His parents were married at Deerfield, Mercer County, Ohio, and his father was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of a volunteer regiment from that state, in which he served throughout the struggle.   Returning to Ohio after the warm he soon afterwards drove through from that state to Jasper County, Iowa, bringing his family in an old-fashioned covered wagon, the trip requiring seven weeks, the country through which they passed being wild and the roads very rough. The hardships of the trip added to by almost continuous rains, all of which greatly discouraged them; but the mother, a courageous little woman, refused to be daunted and her admirable display of fortitude kept up the courage of the others, frequently singing the old hymn, "We Will Stand the Storm, It Will Not Be Long.  The family settled on a farm in Clear Creek Township, this County, and besides farming, the father, who was an engineer, had charge of a stationary engine in that neighborhood, working in this capacity for a Mr. Richards. But a short time after reaching here disaster visited the home and the happy family circle was broken up by the sad death of the mother, who was burned to death.  The father then left this part of the country, leaving his child. Noble J. of this review, to the care of neighbors.  He was taken into the home of John F. Fugard when six years of age and remained with that family until after he became of age and he took their name.  Having never been legally adopted by them, when he reached his majority, he secured an order from the court changing his name from Border to Fugard and he has since been known to everybody by the latter name.  After the death of the mother of the subject, the father married again a Mrs. Young, and had a daughter, Mary Border, half-sister of the subject.  She lives in Des Moines, and is now Mrs. Frank Ferris.  His second wife is deceased, but Mr. Border is living in Des Moines.  There was but one other child born to the parents of the subject, a daughter, who died in infancy.

 Mr. Fugard knows but little of his mother's people.  She was the daughter of Jacob Tindall, the latter a brother of George Tindall, a soldier in the Revolutionary war.  The family owned considerable land where the city of Trenton, New Jersey, now stands.

 On June 6, 1886, Noble J. Fugard was united in marriage with Lou Mason, whose death occurred on September 12, 1888.  On August 17, 1903, he was married to Mrs. Jennie Edwards, widow of Charles Edwards, and the daughter of John W. and Rebecca (Nichols) Bicknell.  Her father was a native of North Carolina and was the son of Pleasant and Mary (Campbell) Bicknell.  Her mother was the daughter of John and Mary Nichols and was born October 15, 1831, and died April 23, 1863.  Her people were among the earliest settlers in Jasper County and a full mention of them will be found in the sketch of Hannah Nichols, appearing elsewhere in this work.

 To John and Rebecca Bicknell five children were born, namely: Wilford S., Wesley C., William H., Elias M. and Mary Jane, the wife of Noble Fugard, of this review.  She was born June 23, 1859.  After her mother's death her father married Malinda Blackwood, and to this union two children were born, Frank, and Lester W., who died in 1911.

 Mrs. Fugard's father, John Bicknell, was a well-known man in this locality.   He was a successful farmer, carpenter and also owned a livery barn in Newton for a number of years.  His death occurred very suddenly on September 27, 1895, in Buena Vista Township.

 Mary Jane Bicknell was married to Charles Edwards, May 22, 1882, and to this union was born one child, Etta May Edwards, now the wife of Guy A. Hammer, son of Nathan Hammer; they have three children, Lois, Bessie and Lawrence.

 Not having any children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Fugard took a little girl from the orphans' home in September 1907, when she was six weeks old. They have adopted her and named her Daisy; she is much beloved by them and is the sunshine of their home.

 Mr. Fugard at one time owned what is known as the old Nichols place in Buena Vista Township, but sold it a few years ago and moved to Newton, where he purchased a cozy home, known as the Springer property.  This attractive and pleasant home is surrounded by two acres of valuable land.

 Mr. Fugard is independent in politics, but is in sympathy with the Prohibitionists.  He is a member of the Baptist church, as is also his wife.  They enjoy the friendship of a wide acquaintance and their home is known as a hospitable one.

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Last updated: August 26, 2001.