Potter v. Long

117 S.W. 724, 217 Mo. 607, 1909 Mo. LEXIS 296
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedMarch 30, 1909
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 117 S.W. 724 (Potter v. Long) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Potter v. Long, 117 S.W. 724, 217 Mo. 607, 1909 Mo. LEXIS 296 (Mo. 1909).

Opinion

FOX, J.

This cause is now pending before this court upon an appeal on the part of the plaintiff from a decree and judgment in favor of the defendant.

This proceeding is one brought under the provisions of section 650, Revised Statutes 1899, to ascertain and determine the title to 12 acres of land in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter, section 23, in township 24, range 26, lying south of Flat creek, in Barry county, Missouri. The petition is in the usual form and alleges that plaintiff has been for twenty years or more last past in possession of the land in controversy. It also- alleges that defendant makes claim, asserts title and interest in and to the property described in the petition. Then follows the prayer of the plaintiff that the court ascertain and determine the estate, title and interest of the parties to this litigation in the real estate involved.

The answer of the defendant denies that plaintiff is in possession of the premises mentioned, or any part thereof,.and also denies that plaintiff has any valid claim to said premises, or that he is seized of an estate of inheritance in said premises. The answer further alleges and states that th'lDdefendant is in the absolute and exclusive possession of said premises, and that he and his grantors and their ancestors have been in the peaceable, continuous, open, notorious and adverse possession of said premises for more than thirty years before the institution of this action, and that defendant is the owner of said premises in fee simple absolute. Following this the defendant prays that the court adjudge and decree all the right, title and interest claimed by plaintiff, of and to the said premises mentioned in plaintiff’s petition, to be in defendant, and that plaintiff be divested of all claim thereto, and for all other proper relief.

Upon the trial it was conceded that Thomas Stockton was the common source of title. It Was also shown that on the 7th day of August, [609]*6091856, Thomas Stockton and wife, by warranty deed, .conveyed the land in controversy to Alexander Linn, which deed was duly recorded in the recorder’s office, and on March 5, 1866, Alexander Linn and wife conveyed the said land with other lands, to Thomas Jefferson Stockton. This deed was duly recorded on the 25th day of April, 1867, in Book H, of the recorder’s office of Barry county, at pages 142 and 143, and recorded in Book 64, page 267. ■ Plaintiff also introduced in evidence a deed dated August 21, 1867, from J. Stockton and others, including T. J. Stockton, to B. G. Eden, by which it was sought to convey their interest in the real estate of Thomas Stockton, deceased. Said deed being in the following words and figures:.

“(50 cents)
“(Thomas Stockton)
“Know all men by these presents that James Stockton, and Rebecca Stockton, Jonathan Eden and Matilda Eden, and S. I. Stockton, Madison Walker, and Rachel Walker, of the county of ’Barry, and State of Missouri, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and seventy-five dollars, account to them in full satisfaction of B. G. Eden, of Barry county, State of Missouri, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do give, grant, bargain, and sell, and convey-,- unto the said B. G. Eden, and to his heirs and assigns,'all our interest in the real estate, of Thomas Stockton, deceased, contained in the following described lot, tract, or parcel of land, viz.-:
“Commencing at the south half of the northeast quarter of section twenty-three, in township twenty-four, of range twenty-six, and the northeast quarter, of the southeast quarter, of section twenty-three in township twenty-four, of range twenty-six, to have and to hold the above granted and bargained, premises with the appurtenances thereof unto the said B. G. [610]*610Eden, Ms heirs and assigns, in fee simple forever, to their proper nse and behoof, and further we the said James Stockton, Rebecca and Jonathan Eden and Matilda Eden, and T. J. Stockton, and Madison Walker and Rachel Walker, to covenant to and with the said B. O. Eden, that at and until the unseating of these present, we were seized of the above granted, and bargained premises, as a good and indefeasible estate in fee simple that the same are free from all encumbrance and that we will forever warrant and defend the title thereof to the said B. Gr. Eden, his heirs and assigns against all claims and demands whatsoever. And I Rebecca Stockton, wife of James Stockton, and Matilda Eden, wife of Jonathan Eden, and Rachel Walker, wife of Madison Walker, do hereby relinquish our right of dower in said estate as described for the above consideration aforesaid.
“In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seal this 21st day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
“Sumttel T. Clemens.
Beththane Clemon.
his
James~(x) ' Stockton, mark.
her
Rebecca (x) Stockton. mark.
Jonathan Eden.
Matilda Eden.
his
T. J. (x) Stockton. mark. ' •
Madison Walker.
her
Rachel (x) Walker. mark.
‘ ‘ State of Missouri, County of Barry, ss.
“Be it remembered that, James Stockton and Rebecca Stockton, and Jonathan Eden, and Matilda Eden, and T. J. Stockton, Madison Walker, and Rachel Walker, who are personally known to the undersigned justice of the peace to be the persons whose names are sub[611]*611scribed, to the foregoing deed, to be the parties thereto, this day appeared before me and acknowledged, that they executed and delivered, the same as their voluntary act and deed, for the use above specified, and the said wives by me made acquainted with the contents of said deed, acknowledged that they executed the samé and relinquished the right of dower in said estate, before me this 21st day of August, 1867.”

To this deed counsel for defendant interposed an objection for the reason that it does not convey or purport to convey any interest of the grantor, except such interest as might be in the estate of Thomas Stockton, and for the further reason that the record of the deed as heretofore introduced by the plaintiff shows that the land in controversy had long before that time been conveyed to Jeff Stockton, hence it is urged at the time of the execution of this deed the estate of Thomas Stockton owned no interest in this real estate, nor did any of the parties by reason of being his heirs, the title having long since passed from Thomas Stockton. The objection to this deed is also urged that it is void for want of sufficient description of the property.

Plaintiff next offered in evidence a general warranty deed dated March 19, 1869, from Bolin G-. Eden and'wife to Peter Hought, which deed sought to convey the south half of the northeast quarter of section 23, township 24, range 26, and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 23, township- 24, of range 26, containing one hundred and twenty acres.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
117 S.W. 724, 217 Mo. 607, 1909 Mo. LEXIS 296, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/potter-v-long-mo-1909.