Lund v. Nelson

Reese, O. J. This is an action to quiet the title to the northwest quarter of section 3, township 2i north, range 8, in Burt county. As would he suggested by the great number of .parties to the suit, the petition is of considerable length’ caused by the necessity of sh owing the chain of title from the representatives of deceased owners, heirs and other interested parties. As we view the case, it can serve no good purpose to set out even an epitome of the pleadings. It appears that plaintiffs are the widow and heirs of Hokan T. Lund, deceased, who held title to twenty-four twenty-fifths of the land in dispute by record title, the deed having been executed to him by defendant on the 14th day of April, 1890, who was the OAvner of the property conveyed — that is the twenty-four twenty-fifths thereof. We can detect no claim that plaintiffs’ title to this portion of the property is questioned. The sole contention is as to the ownership of the remaining one twenty-fifth. It is not claimed by plaintiffs that they or the husband and father ever liad title by deed to the one fractional [450] part. If they are not the owners of that interest by adverse possession and limitation, they do not own it, and defendant and his coheirs of a previous owner do. The cause was tried to the district court, which found in favor of plaintiffs, and quieted the title to the whole tract in them. Defendant Renstrom appeals. The whole question arises upon the question of adverse possession and limitation. Hokan T. Lund purchased the twenty-four twenty-fifths interest on the 14th day of August, 1890, .and immediately took possession of the whole tract; and he, up to the time of his death, a short time before the commencement of this action, and his family, since that time, have remained in possession, residing on and making it their permanent home, improving the land, constructing buildings, farming and fencing it, as OAvners, paying all the taxes, and receiving-all the income therefrom. So far as is shown by the evidence, no one has ever made any claim of title to the one twenty-fifth, nor has any demand ever been made for a division of products, or the proceeds thereof, nor for the payment of rent. There has been no disturbance of the possession in any manner or at any time. During this period the names of the original OAvners of the one tAventyfifth interest were unknown, nor Avas it knoAvn by Lund Avhere they could be found. Lund is deceased, and hence his testimony is lost; but the testimony of his family Avas taken, and his conduct and statements of claim of full ownership were shoAvn. But it is claimed that Lund and the owners of the one twenty-fifth interest Avere tenants in common; that the possession of one tenant in common is the possession of all, and therefore the statute of limitation could not run in favor of the tenant in possession until there had been an ouster of the other tenant or a denial of his right, which would bé an equivalent. This is the general rule applicable to such tenancies, and the sole question is: Should it be applied to this case? Upon this Ave are not free from doubt. The authorities are not in entire har [451] mony; but, as we view the case, guided by the best lights we have, the decree of the district court is probably correct. Lodge v. Patterson, 3 Watts (Pa.) 74; cases cited in Warfield v. Lindell, 30 Mo. 272. In Thomas v. Garvan, 4 Dev. (N. Car.) 223, it is held that the sole enjoyment of the property by one tenant in common is not of itself an ouster of his cotenant, the possession of one being the possession of all; but the sole enjoyment for a great number of years, without claim from another having right, and under no disability, becomes evidence of title and raises the legal presumption of an ouster. See, also, Mehaffy v. Dobbs, 9 Watts (Pa.) 363, 376; Frederick v. Gray, 10 Serg. & Rawle (Pa.) 182, 187; Cloud v. Webb, 4 Dev. (N. Car.) 290; Lefavour v. Homan, 3 Allen (Mass.) 354; Laraway v. Larue, 63 Ia. 407; Knowles v. Brown, 69 Ia. 11; Feliz v. Feliz, 105 Cal. 1; Beall v. McMenemy, 63 Neb. 70; Angell, Limitations (6th ed.) sec. 390. The decree of the district court is Affirmed.