Christensen v. Farland
Christensen v. Farland
Opinion of the Court
This action was brought for the purpose of compelling the defendants to account for the proceeds of the sale of a quarter section of land.
The plaintiffs are two of. the children and heirs at law of John T. Farland, deceased. The defendant Theodore Farland is one of the children and an heir at law of said John T. Farland. The defendant Martha Froshaug was the wife of said John T. Farland, and is one of the heirs at law.
'It appears from the evidence, and the court so found, that about the year 1892 the said John T. Farland and one John Johnson, a brother of Farland’s wife, now Martha Froshaug, pur
Farland and the said Johnson occupied and fanned said land from the time they purchased it in 1892 to about 1896, when Johnson died. Thereafter Farland and wife occupied and farmed the land until about 1899, when he died. Thereafter Farland’s widow and children occupied and farmed the land until in November, 1900, when she married defendant David J. Froshaug, since which time they occupied and farmed the land until it was sold. Seim never occupied any part of the land or claimed any interest therein except as security for the money he had advanced and the note and mortgage he had given.
By an arrangement that was satisfactory to all parties, and which is not material to any issue involved, Seim, in 1898, conveyed 80 acres of the land to' the mother of the said John Johnson deceased. On the 7th day of May, 1898, Seim conveyed the remaining quarter .section to Farland, but it is not claimed that any part of the money that had been advanced by 'Seim had been, repaid.
Farland’s health was poor, and, realizing that he had but a short time to live, on the 17th day of January, 1899, he conveyed the land back to 'Seim; and the purpose of this conveyance is the only disputed question of fact in the case. The testimony on behalf of the plaintiffs tends to show that Farland and his wife,, conveyed th'e land back to Seim to be held by him as security for the money he had advanced and the note he had signed, and that the deed was in fact intended as a mortgage only, while the testimony on behalf of defendants tends to show that Farland
As above stated, Farland died in April, 1899. In November, 1900, Seim deeded the property to Mrs. Farland; she placed a new loan thereon and took up the Seim note and mortgage. Farland’s estate was never probated.
From, the foregoing facts but one conclusion can follow'. When Farland died his property vested in his heirs, subject to iSeims’ claim as secured 'by his deed, and when the property was sold the respective interests of the heirs followed the proceeds of the sale and should be accounted for by the defendants.
The judgment and order denying new trial are affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CHRISTENSEN v. FARLAND
- Status
- Published