Bader v. Dyer

77 N.W. 469, 106 Iowa 715
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedDecember 16, 1898
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 77 N.W. 469 (Bader v. Dyer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bader v. Dyer, 77 N.W. 469, 106 Iowa 715 (iowa 1898).

Opinion

Bobinson, J.

On the twenty-ninth day of May, 1855, John H. Armitage and MarthaArmitage executed to Augustus L. Dyer and Elizabeth M. Dyer a warranty deed which purported to convey to the grantees a tract of 160 acres of land, in Clinton county, for the consideration of one thousand one hundred and twenty dollars. During the same year a small house was built upon the land, and the grantees, who were husband and wife, moved upon it, and made it their home until December, 1864, when the wife died intestate and without issue. The husband lived upon the land about twenty years after the death of his wife, and then moved to Maquoketa. He continued in possession of the land, however, until January, 1896, when he conveyed his interest therein to Jesse A. Anderson, and received a mortgage thereon for the purchase price, which he now holds. Three brothers and two sisters of Mrs. Dyer survived her, and the sisters and one brother are the plaintiffs. The defendants are the husband and his [717]*717grantee, Anderson, who was a brother of Mrs. Dyer. D. H. Anderson, who was the third brother, has executed a quitclaim deed for the land to Dyer, and is not made a party to the action. The plaintiffs- claim that each of them is entitled to an undivided one-tenth of an undivided one-half of the land described; that Jesse A. Anderson and D. IT. Anderson were entitled to like shares; and that Dyer was entitled to but an undivided three-fourths of the entire tract. The defendants allege that all the land was purchased and owned by Dyer, and that Mrs. Dyer’s name was inserted in the deed therefor erroneously and by mistake, and that the mistake was not discovered until the conveyance to Jesse A. Anderson was made. Other defenses are also pleaded. The district court found and adjudged that each plaintiff was entitled to the share claimed, or to an undivided one-twentieth of the entire tract of land; that Jesse A. Anderson was the owner of the remainder; that the premises could not be divided equitably; and ordered a sale thereof, and that the defendants pay the costs of witnesses and reporter’s fees.

[718]*7181 [717]*717I. Much evidence was submitted in regard to the property owned by Mr. and Mrs. Dyer, respectively, and as to the sources from which the money paid for the- land in controversy was obtained. Their parents lived in Virginia. They ..were married there, and came to this state in the year 1853. The husband had some property which he had obtained from his father and by his labor, which he converted into money, and claims to have brought to this state about $400 in money and some other personal property. His wife also had a small amount of property, which she received from her father. She was a glove maker and tailoress, and made gloves and clothing for others, and derived considerable revenue from that source. In June, -1854, they purchased eighty acres of prairie land and ten acres of timber for one hundred and fifty dollars, and in October of the same year the eighty-acre tract was sold for five hundred and fifty dollars, and a contract for the land in controversy was made. The five hundred and fifty [718]*718dollars so received and three hundred and fifty dollars borrowed by Dyer constituted the first payment on the land, and he claims to have paid the remainder of the purchase price, and to have repaid the money borrowed from his share of his father’s estate. He received from that source, in the year 1855, about one thousand dollars. Improvements were made upon the land to the value of about six thousand dollars. It is probable that the larger part of the purchase price of the land was paid from the • resources of Dyer, but, if that be true, it does not follow that ■ a mistake was made by inserting in the deed the name of the wife as one of the grantees. It is probable that she contributed a substantial amount to the purchase price and to the cost of the improvements, nearly all of which were made during her lifetime, and it was proper and commendable to give her an interest in the land. The Armitages resided in Indiana, and the land in question was purchased of them through their agent, named Beard, who resided near the Dyers, in Clinton county. The deed was executed in Indiana, acknowledged there before a justice of the peace, and sent to Beard, who delivered it to Dyer. When the deed was first received, Beard called Dyer’s attention to the fact that a certificate showing the official character of the justice had not been attached, and the deed was returned to Indiana for a certificate of that character. The presumption is that Dyer read the deed when he received it, and knew that his wife was named as grantee. It was not, and is not, usual in conveying land to a husband to insert the name of his wife as a grantee unless that is required by the contract of purchase. It is true that Dyer testifies that he first learned of or was informed that the deed in question was drawn to himself and his wife jointly in January, 1896,but the claim is unreasonable. He couldread and write. The deed was examined when it was received. He kept it in his possession for several weeks and then had it recorded. After it was recorded it was returned to him, and ever since has been in his possession. We are satisfied that [719]*719tbe deed was drawn as intended, and that he knew bow it was drawn when be received it.

2 II. It is claimed, if a mistake in tbe deed in question be not shown, that it created in Dyer and bis wife an estate by tbe entirety, which passed to him on tbe death of bis wife, according to tbe rule of tbe common law. But section 2923 of tbe Code provides that “conveyances to two or more in their own right create a tenancy in common, unless a contrary intent is expressed.” That was tbe law of this state when tbe conveyance in question was made. Code 1851, section 1206. Tbe effect of a conveyance to tbe bus-band and wife, under that provision as it appeared in tbe revision of 1860, was determined in tbe well-considered case of Hoffman v. Stigers, 28 Iowa, 302, and held to vest in them an estate in common, and with that decision we are content.

[720]*7203 [719]*719III. It is next contended that Dyer held possession of the land in question from tbe time tbe deed was delivered to him until January, 1896, under a claim of absolute and exclu- • sive ownership adverse to all others, and that tbe claims of tbe plaintiff are barred by tbe statute of limitations. It is also insisted that tbe plaintiffs have been so grossly negligent in asserting their claim's that a court of equity should not give its aid to enforce them. It is well settled that tbe seizin and possession of one of several tenants in common are tbe seizin and possession of all. It was said in Burns v. Byrne, 45 Iowa, 285, “that tbe seizin and possession of one tenant in common are tbe seizin and possession of tbe others. One can never be disseized by another without actual ouster. By actual ouster is not meant a physical eviction, but a possession attended with such circumstances as to' evince a claim of exclusive right and title, and a denial of tbe right- of tbe other tenants to participate in the profits. An actual ouster, and consequent adverse possession, might be inferred from sole possession, and an exclusive reception and enjoyment of'the rents and profits, with-tbe knowledge and implied acquiescence of tbe other tenant in common, for the period of ten years.” Tbe rule of that case has been followed frequently [720]*720in this state. See Kinney v.

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Bluebook (online)
77 N.W. 469, 106 Iowa 715, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bader-v-dyer-iowa-1898.