69 Mo. 144 | Mo. | 1878
This was an action of ejectment for certain lands in Schuyler county. Both parties claim title through Lyttleton H. Conklin. On December 24th, 1860, said Conklin, who was collector of Schuyler county, made ■a settlement with the county court, from which it appeared that he was indebted to the county in a large amount for ■county revenue collected by him. The county court, at its August term, 1863, directed its clerk to certify to the clerk of the circuit court of the county an abstract of such settlement. On the 17th day of August, 1863, an abstract of ■said settlement was filed with the circuit clerk, attested as follows; “Witness my Land this 17th day of August, 1863. J. 0. Jewett, county clerk Schuyler county, Missouri.” On the 10th day of October, 1863, Conklin conveyed to the plaintiff the land in controversy. A portion of the certificate of acknowledgment of this conveyance is as follows: “State of Missouri, Schuyler county, ss : Be it remembered that before the undersigned, circuit clerk, ■comes Lyttleton H. Conklin,” &e. On the 15th day of April, 1865, a writ of fi. fa. issued from the office of the circuit clerk upon said abstract of settlement, against said
The objection to the acknowledgment is, that it does-not appear to have been taken before any officer known to the laws of this State; and that it does. not a*ppear of what county the officer making the certificate was circuit clerk. “ Circuit clerk ” is the-title by which the clerk of the -circuit court is ordinarily designated both by lawyers and laymen, and while, as an official designation, it is not rigorously exact, yet being in common use and reasonably certain, we are of opinion that it sufficiently identifies the officer taking the acknowledgment as the clerk of the circuit court. We are also of opinion that it sufficiently appears from the face of the-certificate that the person taking the certificate was circuit clerk of Schuyler county. The venue of the certificate is. “ State of Missouri, Schuyler county.” This shows that the certificate was granted in Schuyler county, and the presumption is that the officer exercised his functions within his jurisdiction. People v. Snyder, 41 N. Y. 397; Carpenter v. Dexter, 8 Wall. 513. Had the original deed been used in evidence, the seal affixed would undoubtedly have identified the officer. The objection made was founded upon a certified copy, the locus sigilli being occupied by a scroll.
Affirmed.