157 Iowa 316 | Iowa | 1912
— While' the facts are not seriously in dispute, they are complicated and difficult to state with any degree of clearness. The land in controversy is an island in the Mississippi river near the west bank thereof, and this island is described as lots 5, 6, and 7 in section 26, township 97, range 3 west. Mrs. Hart claims to ’be the owner of lots 5 and 7, and Mr. Hart of lot 6, and the basis for each claim is a tax deed or deeds for said lots executed as hereinafter set forth. Defendants Delphey claim to own the same by purchase from the county and by reason of having homesteaded the same under circumstances hereinafter to be related. Each also claims that the other is estopped from making any claim to the lands. One of the claims of all parties is that the lands were “swamp” in character, that they passed from the Hnited States government to the state, from the state to Allamakee county, and from Allamakee county to certain purchasers; and the records disclose that Mrs. Delphey has the paper title, from the Hnited States government, passing through the channels above indicated. The main reliance of the plaintiffs is upon tax deeds issued' to them at various times, which defendants say were and are invalid because the lands were not subject to taxation at the times the taxes were levied against them. While defendants are relying upon a homestead entry which we shall presently consider, they, or 'at least one of them, is relying upon a patent from the Hnited States government issued to the state under the theory that the lands were not subject to homestead entry, but were swamp lands, which passed to the state and county and afterward to Mrs. Delphey. So that the first question in the case is: Assuming the lands to be “swamp” in fact, when did the title to the same pass from the government and become subject to taxation ? The patent did not in fact issue from the Hnited States government until October of the year 1907, and the state patented the lots to the county in November of the same
The following facts are relied upon as showing that the lands were subject to taxation: It is said that, by reason of the character of the island, the lands comprising the same passed to the state of Iowa under the swamp land grant of the year 1850; that the state granted the same to the county; and that the county sold the several tracts at different times and to different buyers at various times —all as shown by the swamp land record still preserved in the office of the county auditor of Allamakee, county. It is true that this copy of the swamp land list which was found in the county auditor’s office shows the following with reference to these various lots:
*321 Des. Sec. T. K. A. Yal. Date.
Let 6 26 97 3 26.50 3-8-’64 Millet & Williams sold by S. L. C....$33.12
Lot 5 26 97 3 56.44-50 8-8-’66 Rec’d. Treas’r E1 i z a b eth Klett, Dep’t. 28.22
Lot 7 26 97 3 29.03 75 ' Gutbneck & H e r t z o g, Dep’t......21.73
This list contains description of eighteen different tracts, and with one exception they are marked in one or the other of these methods, “sold,” “sold deeded,” “deeded,” or “deposit.” In connection herewith, we here reproduce a receipt from Guthneek which is found in the record: “$21.73. Office of County Auditor. Harpers Eerry, Iowa, December 29, 1909. Received of S. K. Kolsrud, county auditor, Allamakee county, Iowa, twenty-one' and 73-100 dollars, in full payment for money deposited with the auditor- of said county years ago to purchase Gov. lot 7, section 26, township 97, range 3. Herbert Guthneek.”
About the only other evidence of the sale of these lots by the county is: The assessment thereof for about thirty-three years, the payment of taxes thereon by the following named persons: Dayton, Tobiason, Ratcliffe, Hart, and the Delpheys. And tax sales of the lots or some of them in 1880 to Dayton; in 1888 to Tobiason; lots 5 and 7 in 1894 to William S. Hart & Co.; and lot 6 to Ratcliffe; in 1900 an undivided.1/60 of lot 6 to Hart; and in 1901 the remaining 59/60 of -the lot to Hart. Plaintiff’s title to lots 5 and 7 is based upon a tax deed issued in 1897 upon the sale of the lots in 1894 and to lot 6 upon tax deeds subsequently issued. The Harts have been -in the -actual possession of the lots since the issuance of the tax deeds, or at least down to the time that the Delpheys went into possession (as squatters according to plaintiff’s claim) in November of the year 1902. Since that time there has
Part of Sec. Sec. Twp. Range. No. of Acres.
Lot No. 5 26 96 3 56.44 )
Omitted on
Lot No. 6 26 96 3 26.50 )
opposite page.
Lot No. 7 26 96 3 29.03 )
As will be noticed, the lots selected by him were in township 96, which the testimony now shows did not exist, but.was in fact in the Mississippi river. That the naming of the township was a mistake seems reasonably clear. But here the contest deepens. The General Land Office of the United States, evidently finding some discrepancies, wrote the Des Moines land office the following letter: “Washington, D. 0., October 26, 1896. ‘EP SWX. Register and Receiver, U. S. Land Office, Des Moines, Iowa — Sirs: You will please transmit to this office a certified copy of so much of the swamp land selection list, transmitted to the Decorah land office with the Surveyor General’s letter of January 12, 1857, as relates to sec. 26, T. 96 N., R. 3 W. and sec. 26, Twp. 97 N., RL 3 W. The document is needed to enable this office to determine in which township the selection was actually made. If your records throw any light on the subject please report the fact in your letter transmitting the copy herein requested. Very respectfully, E. E. Best, Assistant Commissioner.”
This was answered by letter from the Des Moines office dated August 9, 1897, which closed as follows: “You will see by the inclosed copy that the Surveyor General’s
This information led to an order canceling the selection in 26-96-3, and to the following notice by letter addressed to the Des Moines land office:
Sirs: Included in swamp land selection list No. 3, Decorah series, received with the Surveyor General’s letter of January 8, 1857, are lots 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of sec. 26, T. 96 N., E. 3 W. The official plat of survey of said township on file in this office, does not show any section 26 (T. 96). The corresponding lots in sec. 26, T. 97 N., E. 3 W. agree in area with those described in said list 3, but, as the list on file in your office agrees with the one filed in this office, it can not be held that the selection was for lots in sec. 26, T. 97 N., E. 3 W. You will advise the proper state authorities of the facts above stated, and allow them sixty days within which to show cause why the selection of said lots in sec. 26, T. 96 N., E. 3 W., should not be canceled for the reason that no such description exists. In event of failure to make such showing within the time allowed, or to appeal herefrom, the selection will be canceled, without further notice. In due time report action in the matter to this office. (Indorsed on back:) ‘Sept. 7, 1897, see’y of state and auditor Allamakee Co., Waukon, la.,, notified 60 days to appeal, and copy of decision sent by registered mail.’ ‘April 20, 1898, reported to G. L. O. no> action taken.’
The Des Moines office gave notice of the cancellation to the state and to Allamakee county and that unless appeal was taken within sixty days the same would become final No attention was given these notices, and the cancellation doubtless became final. Neither Hart nor any of the claimants of the land were given notice of these proceedings, nor had they any knowledge thereof. In January of the
That Mr. Jarrett selected the lots in sec. 26, T. 97 N., E. 3 W. (instead of T. 96) is evidenced by the fact that the areas of the several lots correspond exactly with those in sec. 26, T. 96 N., E. 3 W. The same erroneous descriptions, viz., ‘Sec. 26, T. 96/ were carried into the Surveyor General’s list of January 8, 1857, reporting the state’s claim. The'county was therefore justified in claiming that the lots in controversy had been selected under the swamp grant. . . . (States that from all the testimony he thinks the land subject to overflow during the planting, growing, or harvesting season so as to injure or destroy a crop, and was in 1850. Quotes part of original United States surveyor’s notes on this township made in 1849, showing white and bur oak growing therein, etc. Concludes the land is higher now than in 1850.) I am also of the opinion, and so decide, that lots 5, 6, and 7, as well as lots 8, 9, and 10, of sec. 26, T. 97 N., E. 3 W., were, in effect,*325 embraced in a list of swamp lands reported to this office January 8, 1857, and that the state’s claim thereto was confirmed by the act of March 3, 1857, c. 117, 11 Stat. 251. The appeal is sustained, and the lots in controversy are awarded to the state. The homestead entry of Milton O. Delphey, No. 1,419, covering the said lots, is held for cancellation for the reasons above stated. Advise the parties in interest hereof, allow the usual right of appeal, and in due time make full report in the matter to this office. ■
On motion for review the commissioner made the fol-' lowing findings:
Now that a question on this point (the Jarrett list and the finding thereof) has been raised by the motion for. review, the office is ready to concede that the tracts involved in this controversy were not, technically, reported. While it is clear that 'it was the intention to make selection of the tracts involved, it can not be said that they actually were reported. If the decision of October 16th hinged on this point alone, there might be good ground for considering the decision again. But as the case has been determined upon its merits, and no good ground appears for reviewing the decision on that basis, there is nothing to be gained by a discussion of the effect of the confirmatory act of these; lands. If the lands are of the character of lands granted, and have been shown to be such by the testimony adduced at a hearing regularly held for the purpose of determining their character, it can made no difference whether they have been selected or reported as swamp, or not. This office has decided the tracts involved to have been of the character' of lands granted, and rests upon that decision. This office can not agree that the doctrine of res judicata applies to the tracts in question. There is no record or other evidence that the question of the swampy character of these tracts was ever before considered. The decision of September 3, 1897, did not touch that question. The statement in that decision respecting lands in T. 97 N., E. 3 W., was mere dictum. Any claim which the state or its grantee may have to the lands in T. 96, and not T. 97, was the subject of that decision. For the same reason, the doctrine of estoppel, invoked in the motion, can not be applied in this .case. The state’s acquiescence in the decision of September-*326 '3, 1897, can in no sens© be considered a waiver of its claim to anything except the erroneous selections which were the subject of that decision. The contention that neither the state nor the contestants in this case ‘had or ever could have had any right to make claim’ to the lands involved, as swamp, is not in accord with the view of this office. The fact that these lands were designated as swamp on your plats, and that the Harts claim them under purchase from the state’s grantee, was sufficient justification for proceeding under the circular of December 13, 1886, supra. The failure of either the state or county to exercise its rights in the premises could not act as a bar to those who derived title through them. It was within the province of the state to have the character of these lands determined by a hearing. The same right inhered in those who claim under the state. (Smith et al. v. Miller, 22 Land Dec. Dep. Int. 372.)
On appeal to the Secretary of the Interior, that official made the following findings:
The errors assigned on appeal are enumerated in eleven specifications, yet the questions submitted for consideration may be summed up as follows: First, that the judgment of your office is contrary to law; and, second, that it is contrary to the preponderance of the evidence in the ease. The matters set out in support thereof are largely a repetition of those urged in support of the motion for review denied by your office. (In considering first question presented, decision recites situation of these and adjoining island lands; swamp selections thereof, excepting in sec. 26-97-3; selections in 26-96-3, by Jarrett, by insertion on different page as recited in commissioner’s decisions [see Ex. Ill above] ; and cancellation of such selection in sec. 26-96-3 by decision of September 3, 1897, made final in April, 1898, after due notice to county and state.) It is now strongly urged that this was a final adjudication of any claim of the state or its grantee to the lots in sec. 26, T. 97 N., K. 3 W.; that by acquiescence in the decision of September 3, 1897, they were thereafter estopped to claim the land as swamp; and that such adjudication and cancellation being conclusive of the swamp claim, under that selection, the government is likewise estopped to again consider such a claim. (Decision states that the depart*327 ment can not concur in this contention; that such proceeding was one to clear the records of a claim to nonexisting lands. This action canceled such selection, but did not determine the character of other land, and what was said as to land in section 26-97-3 was dictum. ‘The intent of that decision is made clear by the language of your office letter of April 29, 1898, maldng final the cancellation of selection of said lots in T. 96 N., and the acquiescence of the state therein can not be construed as a waiver of any claim it may have to lands in T. 97 N., under its swamp land grant.’ Further refers to reasons for believing that Jarrett intended to select lands in T. 97 instead of T. 96, because of identity of number, area, etc., of lots mentioned, and the nonexistence of any such lots in sec. 26, T. 96, whereas similar lots existed in sec. 26, T. 97 N.) But whether this action on the part of the state in the particulars indicated with respect to said list amounted to - a ‘selection’ of swamp lands within the confirmatory provisions of the Act of March 3, 1857, 11 Stat. 251, it is unnecessary to determine, in view of the finding hereinafter made, upon the record, as to the character of the lands involved. As to the contention, substantially, that the affidavits filed by Hart were not sufficient upon which to base this proceedings, your office correctly held that: ‘The fact that these lands were designated as swamp on your plats, and that the Harts claim them under purchase from the state’s grantee, was sufficient justification for proceeding under the circular of December 13, 1886, supra. The failure of either state or county to exercise its rights in the premises could not act as a bar to those who derived their title through them. It was within the province of the state to have the character of these lands determined by a hearing. The same right inhered in those who claim under the state.’ Smith v. Miller, 22 Land Dec. Dep. Int. 372. Belative to the argument respecting the character of sufficiency of the title to these lots claimed by contestants, it need only be said that this is not a matter for the consideration of this department, but rather one for the arbitrament of the courts. (Decision then briefly reviews the evidence, and concurs with the commissioner that it thereby appears that the lands are swampy in character so as to pass by the grant of September 28, 1850.) With this*328 modification tbe judgment of your office is affirmed. 'Tbe homestead entry of Delphey is hereby canceled, and the lots in controversy awarded to the state.
On motion for review, the Secretary made the following findings; the same being addressed to the Commissioner of the General Land Office:
As held by your office and the department, the failure of the state or county to exercise its rights in the premises could not act as a bar to those who derived title through them. . . . This land is of the character contemplated by the swamp land grant, . . . and that such must have been its character at the date of the grant, as appears from the evidence of record. No speculation was indulged as to the character or sufficiency of the title to these lots claimed by the contestants. The same may also be said as to the other party or parties claiming title through the state or its grantee. As was correctly said, this is not a matter for the consideration of this department, but rather one for the arbitrament of the courts.
Following these findings and decisions, a patent issued to the state, as before indicated. The first of the cases now at bar was commenced while the homestead contest was pending; but the case did not reach the district court for trial until April 1, 1910. On January 19, 1905, M: O. Delphey attempted to redeem from the tax sale of lot 6 to W. S. Hart on December 2, 1901, and the county treasurer issued a certificate of redemption reciting that: “M. O. Delphey had that day redeemed the undivided 59/60 of lot 6, sec. 26-97-3 (26% acres), from sale to W. S. Hart on December 2, 1901; that the sale was for 95 cents for delinquent taxes of 1899 and 1900; and that Delphey had paid in redemption thereof the sum of $1.29 in full of sale, penalties, interest and costs,” etc.
As soon as Hart learned of this redemption, he gave notice to the county auditor and county treasurer, “reciting that the pretended redemption of the undivided 1/60 of lot 6, sec. 26-97-3, from sale for taxes to Wm. S. Hart
' Thereafter and on November 27, 1908, the county treasurer made a written statement to- the effect that: “Wm. S. Hart had tendered to. surrender his certificates at tax sale of following described property: Undivided 1/60- of lot 6 in sec. 26-97-3 sold Dec. 3, 1900, and undivided 59/60 of said lot 6 sold Dec. 2, 1901. ‘And that I have now and heretofore refused said tender and demand because of my understanding that the books at my office show the said premises to be redeemed from each of said sales.’ ”
Taxes for the years 1908 and 1909 upon all the lots were paid by the Delpheys. On August 7, 1908, Hart gave defendants Delpheys notice of expiration of period of redemption from the tax sales of lot 6, both of the 1/60 and the 59/60; but the county treasurer refused to make deeds and gave the written statement before set out. W. S. Hart then brought his suit to set aside the redemptions from tax sale and to quiet his title and to require the execution of tax deeds to lot 6. Upon the trial of the ease in the district court, one Collins, deputy auditor of the county from 1880 to 1884, and auditor from 1884 to 1896, testified that these lots were not assessed at all, and that if assessed it was through mistake, and that he canceled the assessments. He also testified that as auditor he returned to one Kletts $27 purchase money paid for the lots because no deed was ever produced showing that they had passed from the county. He also testified that one Hubert Gruthneck made demand for a deed. There were also introduced
Guthneek was also a witness, and he testified as follows :
Once had an interest in lot 7, one of those where Mr. Delphey lives. This was so long ago I can’t remember the date. It was the government land. Mr. Ryan, then county treasurer, told me I need not pay taxes on it; that he couldn’t give me a deed for it, and I needn’t pay any taxes on it. I paid $1.25 an acre for it, if I am not mistaken. Held it for several years, and at last one of the Daytons (not any of the lawyer Daytons) came at me an'd wanted me to buy it, to pay $15 for it, and I told him I had already paid for it and he has no right to collect anything from me for that lot. I never tried to get a title for the lot. I did not get a title or my money back. I remember when Mr. Collins was county auditor. Don’t remember now whether I demanded my money from him or not. Got a little hay off of the lot. Held it as long as I thought I owned it. Did not know I had no right to it until Mr. Dayton came to me as above stated. This was 81 or 40 years ago. Since then have exercised no ownership over it. Once when the supervisors were down to Harpers Ferry on public business in a body, I told them about it, and that I wanted my money back. This was verbal, not written. They made no effort to get me my money, and I never received anything. The talk with the supervisors was some years ago. Q. The man you paid this*331 money to was John Ryan, county treasurer, was it? A. I think it was; yes, sir.
The Delpheys claim to have made some improvements upon the land, but the extent thereof they much exaggerated. These improvements were described as follows: “When I was there before the trial of the contest, I noticed some shanties and tents' the clammers used, and a chicken house made of poles, and a hogpen, and the house; there were some short two by fours set up, either in the ground or attached to a frame. Two men could easily have built the poultry house, hogpen, and set up the two by fours in one day or less.”
And under previous decisions construing the swamp land grant, we must hold that the grant of 1850 (Act Sept. 28, 1850, chapter 84, 9 Stat. 519) was a present one, but that the legal title remained in the general government until selection by the counties for the purposes of identification, and that until such selection no title in fact passed to the county. Tubbs v. Wilholt, 138 U. S. 134 (11 Sup. Ct. 279, 34 L. Ed. 887).
Indeed, the estoppel pleaded by plaintiffs, and so strongly relied upon by them, growing out of the defendants Delphey’s conduct, is of no avail because they must recover, if at all, upon the strength of their own title, and not because of any weakness of that under which their adversaries claim. This proposition is too fundamental to require citation of authorities.
As the county sold lot 6 and received the money therefor, which it still retains, and as it treated the lot as sold by regularly listing and assessing the same, we think it is estopped from saying that the lands had not in fact been sold and were not subject to taxation. As Mrs. Delphey holds under a quitclaim deed from the county, she acquired no greater rights than the county, and is also estopped from asserting title to lot 6 under her quitclaim deed from the county.
The attempted redemption from the tax sales by Mr. Delphey is of no validity because he had no such title or interest in or to the lands as would authorize him to redeem.
The cases relied upon by appellees upon the question of estoppel are not in point, as an examination will show. They are distinguished in the cases we have cited and need not be more specifically referred to.
In the first case a judgment and decree was given for N. M. Hart, quieting title to lots 5 and 7, and rendering judgment for plaintiff in the sum of $300. This seems to be erroneous, and it must be, and it is, reversed. In the second case brought by W. S. Hart, there was simply a decree for the plaintiff without any judgment except for costs. This decree seems to be correct, and it is affirmed. The costs will be equally divided between appellants and appellees.
First case reversed and remanded. Second ease affirmed.
