Helberg v. Kepler

178 Iowa 354
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedNovember 17, 1916
StatusPublished

This text of 178 Iowa 354 (Helberg v. Kepler) 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
Helberg v. Kepler, 178 Iowa 354 (iowa 1916).

Opinion

Gaynor, J.

This case involves a controversy as to the division line between plaintiff’s and defendant’s property. Plaintiff is the owner of the west 25 feet of Lot 14, subdivision of Outlot 16. Defendant is the owner of Lot 13 of subdivision of Outlot 16, lying immediately west, and adjoining plaintiff’s lot.

It appears that Outlot 16 was subdivided and platted by the then owners of the land, on June 25, 1884; that, at the time it was subdivided and platted, stakes were placed at the corners of the several lots into which it was subdivided, [356]*356indicating the corners and lines of the lots. Through mesne conveyances from the owners, J. B. Scott became the owner of Lot 14 on August 4, 1893. On November 10, 1894, J. B. Scott and wife conveyed to Ellen O. Ricks, Lot 14. On September 30, 1899, Ellen O. Ricks conveyed the west 25 feet of Lot 14 to Albert Koontz. On September 24, 1904, Albert Koontz conveyed this 25 feet to Lydia Smith. On February 15, 1906, Lydia Smith and husband conveyed this west 25 feet of Lot 14 to the plaintiff.

At the same time that J. B. Scott acquired his owner-' ship of the lot in which plaintiff’s land is situated, he also acquired title to Lot 13, owned by the defendant. On August 4, 1893, J. B. Scott conveyed Lot 13 to one Lawson Daniels. Lawson Daniels died, and bequeathed * this Lot 13 to his wife, Harriet Daniels. On June 30, 1906, she conveyed this Lot 13 to John and Charles W. Nye. On July 17, 1906, Johff Nye conveyed his interest to Charles Nye, and on March 6, 1911, Charles Nye conveyed the east 40 feet of Lot 13 to the defendant in this action. It would appear from this statement of the transfer of title that Ellen O. Ricks became the owner of Lot 14 in 3894; that she conveyed >the east 25 feet of this lot to Albert Koontz, September 30, 1899; that, on September 24, 1904, Albert Koontz deeded it to Lydia Smith, and in 1906, Lydia Smith conveyed the property to the plaintiff. It appears that Mrs. Ricks, who became the owner of Lot 14, in 1894, erected two houses upon the lot. The first house was erected soon after she acquired the property. It was erected east of the house now occupied by the plaintiff. Within two or three years thereafter*, the house in controversy was erected on the land now owned by the plaintiff. It appears that, at the time these houses were erected,, in 1894 and 1897, there were stakes still at the corner of these lots in the subdivisions of Outlot 16. Whether they were the original stakes placed there at the time the plat was filed does not definitely appear. It does definitely appear, however, that the stakes [357]*357found at the corner of the land in controversy were of the same character and kind and resembled the stakes found at the comers of other lots in Subdivision 16. It appears also that, while Mr. Koontz owned the property, in 1899, he put in a cement sidewalk in front of the property claimed by the plaintiff, and this walk extended the full length of the frontage lot line now claimed by the plaintiff, and there were marks made in the cement walks to indicate the lot comers as claimed at that time. The house on the property occupied by the plaintiff, as said before, was built somewhere about 1897. It was built within 18 inches of the west line, as indicated by the stakes, and as indicated by the walk and the markings on the walk placed there by Mr. Koontz. The plaintiff and her grantors have occupied the house ever since it was constructed.

W. E. Ricks, son of Ellen O. Ricks, testifies that he remembers well when these houses were built upon Lot 14; that he helped to build the second house, the one now occupied by the plaintiff; that he found what he understood to be the original survey stakes, or the stakes placed there at the time the lots were subdivided. He testified that, in locating the house, the wall was placed within 1 foot 6 inches of the line, as indicated by the stakes and the markings upon the sidewalks. He is not able to say that these were the stakes put in there by the surveyor who subdivided Lot 16, or that they are the original stakes, but he says that he examined other stakes in the addition, apart from .the stakes on this lot, and they were of the same character.

We think from the whole record that there is evidence to show that stakes were found at the comers of these lots at the time plaintiff’s house was built in 1894. It appears that the stakes found by the Rickses, at the time the house was constructed, were at both the front and rear end of the lot; that the house was placed 18 inches from a straight line drawn between these stakes; that, at the time the house was built, other stakes were driven inside of those stakes, which [358]*358indicate the line as claimed by the Rickses at the time they built the house.

Koontz testified that, somewhere in 1900, he had a cement walk put in, which is still there; that, at the time that he put in the walk, there were stakes at the corners of the lot; that he put in the sidewalk with reference to the stakes; that the sidewalk was 25 feet long, and. immediately in front of the property owned by the plaintiff; that the sidewalk extended 18 inches beyond the west line of the building; that they measured between the stakes at the time the sidewalks were put in.

Frank Smith, husband of Lydia Smith, who, in 1904, acquired the property now owned by the plaintiff, testified that, during the time she occupied the premises, there was never any controversy over the line; that there was a mark in the sidewalk' — -a deep line right across the sidewalk — indicating the line, and at the point where the plaintiff now claims the line to be; that it was put there by the man who put in the sidewalk; that, when she purchased it, she took it to indicate the end of the walk; that, when she bought it and owned it, she claimed up to the line, as indicated by this mark upon the walk.

George Hedges testified that he sold the land, in controversy for J. B. Scott to Mrs. Ricks as agent for Scott. He testifies that, at the time he sold the lot, there were stakes at each of the four corners of the lot. He was asked, this question:

“Were the lots in the subdivision generally staked at the corners?” ■ .

He answered:

“Yes, sir. I had the sale of several lots in this subdivision, and had occasion to look over the lots with reference to the corners, and at the time Koontz purchased the lot now owned by the plaintiff, the stakes were still there. I pointed out the stakes to Mr. Koontz at the time he purchased.”

Tie further testifies:

[359]*359“I should say that the west line of plaintiff’s lot, as shown by these stakes, is just a few inches from the dropping of the eaves. I later sold this property for Mr. Koontz to one Henry Long. The stakes were then there. I also made the sale to the plaintiff.”

He further testifies:

“I remember when the stakes were set there. I don’t know the date, but I remember the time. They were set by George W. Wynn.”

He testified that the first time he noticed the stakes was at the time the lot was sold to Mrs. Ricks; that that was some 18 or 20 years ago; that the survey by Wynn was made and the stakes set out, about a year before the sale to Ricks. He testifies:

“I know Mr. Wynn made this survey and put in these stakes within a year before the time I sold the property to Ricks. It had been surveyed before, but I know nothing of that. ’'

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178 Iowa 354, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/helberg-v-kepler-iowa-1916.