Case Name: Nesselrode v. Parish et al.
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1882-10-20
Citations: 59 Iowa 570
Docket Number: 
Parties: Nesselrode v. Parish et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 59
Pages: 570–572

Head Matter:
Nesselrode v. Parish et al.
1. Practice: proceedings to establish lost corner: jurisdiction: In'a proceeding to establish a lost corner of land, a mere statement in the petition that other persons, therein named as defendants, besides the one who alone appeared and answered, are interested in the cause, is not sufficient evidence to establish that fact, and, in the absence of such sufficient evidence, the court had jurisdiction to appoint a commissioner to establish the corner as between the plaintiff and the one defendant who appeared, and his report will not be set aside because such alleged interested persons were not before the court, no notice having been served on them.
2, Beal Estate: true cornee: The true corner of a government subdivision of land is where the United States surveyors in fact established it, whether such location is right or wrong, as shown by a subsequent survey.
Appeal from Guthrie. District Oou/rt.
Friday, October 20.
This is a jnoceeding under tbe statute asking tbe appointment of a commissioner to establish a lost corner. Tbe plaintiff appeals.
Chas. 8. Fogg, for appellant.
C. Haden, for appellee.

Opinion:
Seevers, Ch. J.
-I. Tbe petition states tbe plaintiff is tbe owner of tbe N. W. \ of Sec. 14, T. 79, R; 31, and tbat tbe northwest corner of said land is in dispute and lost or destroyed. Including tbe defendant Parish thirty-five persons were made defendants, and it was stated tbat they were tbe only land owners tbat would be "affected by tbe proceedings sought herein." Certain named defendants were stated to be non-residents, and certain others minors. '
Tbe defendant Parish alone answered tbe petition, and denied tbe corner was destroyed or lost. The court appointed O. E. Allen, Esq. a commissioner to make a survey, establish and locate said corner, and make a report of his doings. The commissioner established the corner as claimed by the defendant Parish, and so reported. The report was confirmed. Objections were made thereto by the plaintiff, among which was that the "court erred in appointing said commissioner." Under this objection it is insisted the court had no jurisdiction or power to appoint a commissioner, because the record fails to show any notice was served on the defendants other than Parish, and there was no appearance for any of them except him. It is said Nesselrode v. Parrish, 52 Iowa, 269, was between the same parties, and in relation to the same subject matter, as in the present case. In that case the defendant, Parish, appeared and resisted the appointment of a commissioner because the proper foundation had not been laid for service on Wright by publication. It was held that the mere statement in an unverified petition of the non-residence of Wright was not sufficient to establish such fact. When the cause was remanded another commissioner was appointed.
It is stated in the petition that certain persons named as defendants are the "only" persons that would be affected by tiie proceedings. There is no evidence other than this statement in the petition tending to show the interest of said persons, or that they were necessary parties. We do not think the statement aforesaid is sufficient evidence of the alleged fact. The case comes within the reason of the rule established in the case just cited. The court, it must be conceded in the state of the record, had jurisdiction, and the power to appoint a commissioner as between the plaintiff and defendant Parrish, unless it appeared there were other persons who were necessary parties.
II. It is assigned as error that the court erred in not setting aside the report of the commissioner. Such an assignment is not sufficiently specific. But as no such objection is made, we will consider briefly whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain the report of the commis sioner. The rule is regarded as well established that the true corner is where the United States surveyors in fact established it, whether such location is right or wrong as may be shown by a subsequent survey. The preponderance of the evidence, we think, was in favor of the disputed corner having been so established at the place claimed by the defendant. As the commissioner so found, we cannot disturb the finding. This disposition of the case makes it unnecessary to determine the motion filed by appellee.
Affirmed.