Court Opinion

ID: 6279872
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-18 16:12:35.66024+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:00:10.175895
License: Public Domain

Opinion by
Williams, J.,
This dispute arose over the ownership of a strip of land four rods wide, extending ninety-two rods along the banks of an artificial lake. The action was trespass for *288cutting down a fence. Plaintiff claimed by adverse possession; defendant, by deed. By stipulation it was agreed the judgment should determine title to the strip.
Plaintiff has held title to seventeen acres, to the southeast of and immediately adjoining the strip, from 1888, during which time the lake has been twice raised, partly submerging the strip; has maintained his line fences to low water mark to keep in his cattle, which have grazed on the strip and gone to the' lake for water; has planted grass seed thereon, cut brush and wood for fuel, and permitted parties to use the lakeshore as a camping-place. He testified he took possession in 1888 with the idea of establishing title by adverse possession. Defendant holds the paper title. He admitted he knew plaintiff used the land but denied knowledge that the possession was adverse.
Appellant states the first question involved as follows: “Can adverse possession be had of land covered with water and part of the bed of a lake?”
The fact that land is covered with water does not render its acquisition by adverse possession impossible. Where such land is the subject of private ownership, title by adverse possession may be acquired by any means which actually and notoriously excludes and disseizes the true owner. Neither the physical exclusion of the owner nor the actual residence of the adverse claimant is necessary: Illinois Steel Co. v. Bilot, 109 Wis. 418. To establish adverse possession there must be evidence of the use of the land and the water over it for the purposes such property is ordinarily used by the owner: Quinn v. Willamette Pulp & Paper Co., 62 Or. 549; McLellan v. McFadden, 114 Me. 242.
Pursuant to appellant’s motion for judgment n. o. v., we must consider whether there was evidence to show adverse possession of the four rod strip. The possession of that part above the so-called high water mark was actual, continuous, open, notorious, exclusive and hostile, and as to that portion which had been inundated *289by tbe raising of tbe lake level there was sufficient evidence of exclusive user for tbe purposes for wbicb sucb lands were used in tbe neighborhood. In this connection it must be remembered that a qualified and limited possession only, can be bad of sucb property. Plaintiff’s cattle, for more than twenty-five years, went into tbe lake to drink; be enclosed tbe strip to low water mark and exercised dominion by permitting parties to camp along tbe lakesbore.
Tbe objections to tbe charge and answers to points might indicate some inaccuracies, but, as a whole, tbe instructions were correct as applicable to tbe conflicting testimony. Tbe evidence relating to tbe raising of tbe lake level was material, and tbe other evidence, admitted under objection, harmless, if irrelevant.
Tbe judgment is affirmed.