321. Maud Edith Selby (Josephine Bonaparte Patterson , John Calvin , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 19 Dec 1896 in Preston, Hickory Co., Mo.
The information gathered here is a combination of information gathered from various web sites, Linda Felton, Pat Corbett Johns, B.A. Corbett, Gary S. Corbett, and others I have corresponded with. The Charlotte, NC library, Memphis, TN library, and Isle o
Maud married Willis H. Shinn on 2 Jan 1916. Willis was born in Hermitage, Mo.
The information gathered here is a combination of information gathered from various web sites, Linda Felton, Pat Corbett Johns, B.A. Corbett, Gary S. Corbett, and others I have corresponded with. The Charlotte, NC library, Memphis, TN library, and Isle o
They had the following children.
525 F i Living Shinn. 526 F ii Living Shinn. 527 F iii Living Shinn. 528 F iv Living Shinn. 529 F v Living Shinn.
325. Minnie Myrtle Taylor (Effie L. Patterson , John Calvin , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 12 Jun 1904 in Center, Hickory, Missouri, USA.
The information gathered here is a combination of information gathered from various web sites, Linda Felton, Pat Corbett Johns, B.A. Corbett, Gary S. Corbett, and others I have corresponded with. The Charlotte, NC library, Memphis, TN library, and Isle o
Minnie married James Noel Amlin on 25 Aug 1924.
The information gathered here is a combination of information gathered from various web sites, Linda Felton, Pat Corbett Johns, B.A. Corbett, Gary S. Corbett, and others I have corresponded with. The Charlotte, NC library, Memphis, TN library, and Isle o
They had the following children.
530 M i Living Amlin. 531 F ii Living Amlin.
332. Cora Dell Campbell (Josephine Elmira McMurray , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born 1 on 2 Apr 1873 in , Dallas, Iowa, USA. She died on 9 Dec 1956 in , Poweshiek, Iowa, USA.
Cora married Mahaska Miller, son of John T. Miller and Mary Elizabeth Perdue "Elizabeth", on 21 Oct 1891 in Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA. Mahaska was born on 9 Sep 1870 in Barnes City, Mahaska, Iowa, USA. He died on 10 Jul 1954 in , Poweshiek, Iowa, USA.
They had the following children.
+ 532 F i Elizabeth Josephine Miller was born on 13 Jun 1892. She died on 24 Jun 1979. 533 F ii Mayme Caroline "Mamie" Miller was born on 22 Oct 1894 in Jackson, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA. She died on 23 Nov 1940. Mamie married Leo Maker on 15 Nov 1915. + 534 F iii Gotha Marthena Miller was born on 14 Nov 1896. She died on 20 Feb 1937. + 535 F iv Ida Margaret Miller was born on 24 Mar 1899. She died on 19 Sep 1975. + 536 F v Hazel Bernice Miller was born on 6 Aug 1901. She died on 28 Feb 1999. 537 M vi Harold Arnold Miller was born in 1903 in Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA. He died in Feb 1906. 538 F vii Esther Ethelyne Miller was born on 21 Apr 1908 in Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA. She died in Dec 1908. 539 viii Miller.
334. Scott John Campbell 1 (Adda A. Scott
, Mary Maria Patterson
, Alexander
, James
, James
) was born on 1 Nov 1882 in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA. He died on 17 Aug 1956 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. He was buried on 21 Aug 1956 in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Scott resided 1885 in Tippecanoe Township, Henry, Iowa, United States. He resided 1920 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. He resided 1935 in Same House. He resided 1940 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. He resided in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. He immigrated 1930 to San Diego, San Diego, California, United States. He immigrated 1949 to Honolulu, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.
"Mr. and Mrs. Scott J. Campbell, who were married in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, are spending their honeymoon in this city." Evening Tribune, April 22, 1905.
Lived at 3681 Wrightwood Drive, Studio City, CA 91604.
BURIAL: Also shown as Buried Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Scott married Edna Rachel Poole 1, 2, daughter of Charles Joseph Poole "C. J." and Viola M. Nevins "Vie", on 18 Apr 1905 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. Edna was born on 24 Mar 1888 in Nashua, Chickasaw, Iowa, USA. She was christened on 8 Sep 1888 in St. Mark's Episcopol Church, Nashua, Chickasaw, Iowa, United States. She died on 10 Nov 1977 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. She was buried in 1977 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Edna was baptized 8 Sep 1888. She resided 1895 in Chickasaw, Iowa, United States. She resided 1900 in Bradford Township, Chickasaw, Iowa, United States. She resided 1910 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. She resided 1920 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. She immigrated 1958 to Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Memories of my Mother Edna Campbell and my Father Scott J. Campbell
By Helen Campbell BradyMy mother was just 17 when she was married. Her mother and father were divorced and there were few things women could do to earn a living. My mother would have graduated from Los Angeles High School June of 1905. Because there was not money for graduation dresses and wedding clothes, she chose to marry in April 1905. She was a good student, specially in math and helped my Dad take a Correspondence Course for sheet metal layout work. He had a job as an apprentice sheet metal worker for a shop in Los Angeles. When I was a baby in 1907 my father started his own shop and my mother would help him at night while I slept in a basket on a work bench.
Both my mother and father had lots of energy and loved to dance and play cards. We always had family vacations camping in the Calif(ornia) Mountains. Whenever we went there would be a group of friends, all with cars which had to be pushed up the mountains and rocks under the wheels to keep form sliding back yards. Brakes had wooden shoes and would catch on fire. Once my motherrolled me up in a blanket and pushed me down the hill while she and my Dad threw dirt on the brakes. My mother was the disciplaintarian in our family. One look was enough for us to straighten up. My father had only a third grade education but was very quick minded. He talked a lot and joked and was called "Scotty" by many people. Mom was particular about our dress and manners, while Dad would start us to giggle behind her back. They both knew financial hardships as they grew up so both were determined to make Don and my childhood happy. This they succeeded in. Dad died of a heart attack Aug 1956 and Mom Nov 1978. As you know she was blind as was her father in later life.Lived at
3681 Wrightwood Dr
STUDIO CITY, CA 91604
They had the following children.
+ 540 F i Helen M. Campbell was born on 28 Aug 1907. She died on 9 Feb 2000. + 541 M ii Donald Clifford Campbell was born on 1 Jan 1910. He died on 3 Jun 1985.
338. Mary Hazel "Hazel" Campbell (Adda A. Scott , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 1 Nov 1892 in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA. She died on 7 Jan 1916 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. She was buried on 10 Jan 1916 in Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Died in childbirth. Was buried at cemetery near Washington and Normandy in Los Angeles. Probably the Rosedale Cemetery. Name Mary is listed first in the 1900 census as well as year of birth.
Hazel married Charles Thomas Neergard "Charley", son of William J. Neergard and Harriet E. Clark, on 1 Nov 1909 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. Charley was born on 12 May 1892 in Titusville, Crawford, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 30 Dec 1955 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
"FACTORY BLOWN UP, ONE MAN INJURED
One man was badly injured and a large portion of the factory at 3306 S. Main, in which he was working, was blown out shortly after noon today when a can containing a small amount of gasoline exploded with terrific force. The man injured is Charles Neergard, 28 years old, living on West Fortyseventh street. He is badly cut about the face and was only partly conscious when taken to the Receiving hospital. The cause of the explosion is unknown. The cause of the explosion is not clearly understood. It took place in the repair room of the United Cornice works. Neergard was instructed some days ago to repair some cans which had contained gasoline. He was pitting molten solder on one of the cans when the explosion took place. It is believed that a small amount of gasoline had been allowed to remain in the can and when heated mixed with the air in a deadly explosive mixture." Los Angeles Herald, Number 3, 4 October 1912.
They had the following children.
542 i Neergard.
340. Estella Agnes "Agnes" Campbell (Adda A. Scott , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 11 Dec 1896 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. She died on 15 Aug 1973 in Yucaipa, San Bernardino, California, USA.
This is a collection from many sources and cousins, I'm sure there are errors and appreciate any additions or corrections you might have. However if it is a dead end line, that is probably all I have on that particular family. Maggi
Agnes married George Leroy Eads, son of Finis Ewing Eads and Virginia Alice Schlabac "Jennie", on 3 Aug 1913 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. The marriage ended in divorce. George was born on 4 Oct 1891 in , , Missouri, USA. He died on 26 Oct 1960 in West Covina, Los Angeles, California, USA.
DODDS FAMILY GENEALOGY -POSTERITY OF FRANCIS DODDS - pg 57
This is a collection from many sources and cousins, I'm sure there are errors and appreciate any additions or corrections you might have. However if it is a dead end line, that is probably all I have on that particular family. Maggi
Marriage Notes:
Campbell family Bible has marriage date as Aug. 5 - 1913.
Agnes and George had the following children.
+ 543 F i Hazel Virginia Eads was born on 16 Mar 1914. She died on 7 Sep 1989.
Agnes also married Frank Mikel Noleman, son of Robert C. Noleman and Julia Hickey, on 31 Dec 1920 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. The marriage ended in divorce. Frank was born on 16 Jul 1895 in , , Nebraska, USA. He died on 17 Nov 1965 in Riverside, California, USA.
Agnes also married Orr Kent Outman, son of William Henry Outman and Margaret Mathilda Steele, on 29 May 1937. Orr was born on 9 Sep 1884 in , , Illinois, USA. He died on 4 May 1954 in Riverside, California, USA.
Living in Richmond, California in 1920. Was a Superintendent of a roofing plant.
341. Frank Waldo "Walter" Scott (Oscar Alexander Scott , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 9 Aug 1887 in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA. He died on 15 Apr 1945 in Muskogee, , Oklahoma, USA. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA.
Frank Waldo Scott, Muskogee, Okla. ; University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha, 1910; served during World War I ; served on the staffs of various Veterans Administration facilities and at the time of his death as chief of the outpatient and reception service, Veterans Administration Facility in Muskogee, where he died April 15, aged 57, of myocardial failure.
1ST LT MED CORPS USA
Walter married Lucile Anna Michelson. Lucile was born on 3 Jul 1890 in , , Nebraska, USA. She died on 12 Feb 1974 in San Rafael, Marin, California, USA.
They had the following children.
544 M i William W. Scott was born in 1914 in , , Nebraska, USA. 545 M ii James F. Scott. 546 F iii Lucille Patricia Scott. Lucille married Dawnis. Lucille also married Anderson.
342. Uarda Mildred Scott (Oscar Alexander Scott , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born in Feb 1891 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA. She died on 1 Aug 1968 in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois, USA. She was buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Horicon, Dodge County, Wisconsin, USA.
Uarda married Paul Etnyre Wadsworth, son of Samuel B. Wadsworth and Loretta E. Etnyre, on 16 May 1916 in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA. Paul was born on 12 Nov 1889 in , , Iowa, USA. He died in 1952. He was buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Horicon, Dodge County, Wisconsin, USA.
They had the following children.
547 F i Patricia Marie Wadsworth was born on 23 Oct 1920 in , , Illinois, USA. She died on 18 Aug 1994 in Dover, , Delaware, USA. + 548 M ii Paul Etnyre Wadsworth Jr. was born on 7 Nov 1928. He died on 1 Jul 2010.
345. Walter Raymond Glover (Clara A. Scott , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 13 Mar 1890 in Mt. Pleasant, Henry, Iowa, USA. He died on 2 Sep 1965 in Mt. Pleasant, Henry, Iowa, USA.
Walter married Emma Marnie Harper, daughter of William James Harper and Sarah, in 1913 in , , Iowa, USA. Emma was born on 8 Apr 1890 in , Henry, Iowa, USA. She died in Rock Falls, Whiteside, Illinois, USA. She was buried in Salem Cemetery, Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA.
They had the following children.
549 M i Glover was born about 1915 in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA. He was buried in Salem Cemetery, Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA.
Buried next to his parents.+ 550 M ii Kenneth Ray Glover.
346. LaVerne Scott "Vern" Glover (Clara A. Scott , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 25 Jan 1892 in Mt. Pleasant, Henry, Iowa, USA. He died on 10 May 1956 in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA. He was buried in Salem Cemetery, Salen, Henry, Iowa, USA.
Vern married Ethel May Harshbarger, daughter of John Fremont Harshbarger and Sarah Elizabeth Meneely "Lizzie", on 4 Jun 1913 in , Henry, Iowa, USA. Ethel was born on 13 Jun 1894 in Tippacanoe, Henry, Iowa, USA. She died on 24 May 1971 in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA. She was buried in Salem Cemetery, Salen, Henry, Iowa, USA.
They had the following children.
+ 551 M i Rex Earl Glover was born on 5 Jan 1914. He died on 6 Jun 1982. + 552 M ii Keith Edward Glover was born on 13 Sep 1920. He died on 1 Jan 1988. + 553 F iii Verna Ruth Glover.
347. Richard Devous "Dick" Glover (Clara A. Scott , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 23 Dec 1893 in Mt. Pleasant, Henry, Iowa, USA. He died on 23 Aug 1949 in Mt Pleasant, Henry, Iowa, USA. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, Henry, Iowa, USA.
Dick married Laura Belle Wellington "Belle", daughter of Miner Wellington and Addie, on 4 Jul 1918 in Tippacanoe, Henry, Iowa, USA. Belle was born on 25 Sep 1898 in Lowell, Henry, Iowa, USA. She died in Aug 2003 in Mt. Pleasant, Henry, Iowa, USA. She was buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, Henry, Iowa, USA.
They had the following children.
+ 554 M i Glenn Merlin Wellington Glover.
348. Gladys Pearl Glover (Clara A. Scott , Mary Maria Patterson , Alexander , James , James ) was born on 28 Jan 1897 in Tippacanoe, Henry, Iowa, USA. She died on 2 Oct 1984 in Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa, USA. She was buried in Salem Cemetery, Salen, Henry, Iowa, USA.
Gladys married R. G. McDowell, son of Horario Burgess McDowell and Mary Ellen Riley, in 1917 in , Henry, Iowa, USA. The marriage ended in divorce. R. G. McDowell was born on 3 Oct 1889 in Greene, Iowa, Iowa, USA. He died in 1962 in Astor Park, Lake, Florida, USA. He was buried in Astor Park Cemetery, Astor Park, Lake, Florida, USA.
THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 3-140 / 02-0884
Filed April 30, 2003
EMERSON H. McDOWELL, by and through MARLA FAGA, Conservator of the Conservatorship of EMERSON H. McDOWELL,
Appellant,
vs.
MICHAEL D. McDOWELL and TRACY A. McDOWELL,
Appellees.
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Jefferson County, Dan F. Morrison, Judge.
Plaintiff appeals the district court’s finding that certain claims were barred by the statute of limitations, there was no undue influence in the sale of a family farm and execution of a promissory note, and the promissory note was not intended as a loan of funds. AFFIRMED.
Dennis Mitchell and Timothy Krumm of Meardon, Sueppel & Downer, P.L.C., Iowa City, for appellant.
Lynn Smith of Dutton, Braun, Staack, & Hellman, P.L.C., Waterloo, for appellees.
Heard by Sackett, C.J., and Huitink and Vogel, JJ.
VOGEL, J.
Emerson H. McDowell appeals the district court’s dismissal of certain claims as barred by the statute of limitations, finding no undue influence in the sale of a family farm and execution of a promissory note, and its determination that the promissory note did not represent a loan of funds. We affirm.
Background Facts. Emerson H. McDowell (Jiggs) and his wife, Evelyn Jean McDowell (Jeannie) were farmers who owned two farms, one located in Jefferson County and the other in Van Buren County. They have four children. Their youngest son, Michael McDowell (Mike), helped the couple farm during his childhood and continued to do so after graduating from high school. Mike was not paid a salary for his labor but believed he would one day own the family farms. In October 1991, Jeannie was killed in an automobile accident which left Jiggs grief-stricken.
On November 7, 1991, Jiggs entered into two real estate contracts for the sale of the Van Buren County farm and Jefferson County farms with Mike and his wife, Tracy. Mike and Tracy assumed the outstanding debt on the Van Buren County farm,[1] which at the time was more than the farm was worth. On the same day, Jiggs issued a bill of sale to Mike and Tracy for farm equipment. Jiggs consulted with an attorney to prepare the contracts and bill of sale.
Jiggs then moved to Texas where he and Jeannie had previously spent their winters. In 1992, unbeknownst to any of his children, Jiggs remarried. On December 31, 1992, Mike executed a promissory note in Jiggs’s favor for $90,000 Jiggs had transferred to Mike. Mike used the $90,000 to pay debt he had accumulated from operating the Van Buren and Jefferson County farms. Though Mike and Tracy had not paid on the note, it was hand-marked “paid in full EH McDowell” on June 1, 1994.
In 1992 and 1993, Jiggs made annual gifts of $20,000 to Mike and Tracy. In May 1994, while still living in Texas, Jiggs wired $57,063.45 to his joint account with Mike in Iowa. Mike then used $50,000 of the transfer to pay First National Bank on his line-of-credit stemming from the farm operations.
In late 1998, Jiggs’s two daughters,[2] Marla Faga and Roberta Adam, began learning of Jiggs’s finances and inquiring into the nature of his financial relationship with Mike and Tracy. Those inquiries lead to the current litigation with Jiggs claiming undue influence, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary relationship and fraud as to the sale of the Jefferson County farm, bill of sale for farm equipment, the $90,000 promissory note, transfers of $40,000 in 1992 and 1993, and a fraudulent transfer of $50,000 to an account jointly held by Mike and Jiggs.
The district court found all claims to be barred by the applicable statute of limitations except the real estate contract for the sale of the Jefferson County farm and the $90,000 promissory note, which both have a ten-year statute of limitations. Iowa Code § 614.1(5) (1999). The district court also found no undue influence in the sale of the Jefferson County farm or the promissory note and the note did not represent a loan of funds.
Jiggs appeals.
Scope of Review. The parties disagree on the appropriate scope of review. Jiggs contends the scope of review is de novo for all claims. Mike and Tracy agree the claim of undue influence is subject to our de novo review. However, Mike and Tracy argue the scope of review for the $90,000 promissory note and the dismissal of claims barred by the statute of limitations is for errors at law.
“Generally, we will hear a case on appeal in the same manner in which it was tried in the district court.” Johnson v. Kaster, 637 N.W.2d 174, 177 (Iowa 2001) (citing Davis-Eisenhart Mktg. Co. v. Baysden, 539 N.W.2d 140, 142 (Iowa 1995)). The appropriate standard of review for the challenge to the district court’s dismissal of claims barred by the statute of limitations is at law. Clark v. Miller, 503 N.W.2d 422, 423 (Iowa 1993); Iowa R. App. P. 6.4. The district court’s findings are binding if supported by substantial evidence. Clark, 503 N.W.2d at 423 (citing Meyers v. Delaney, 529 N.W.2d 288, 289-90 (Iowa 1995)). The remaining claims of undue influence and $90,000 promissory note will be reviewed in equity, and therefore our review is de novo. Iowa R. App. P. 6.4; Johnson, 637 N.W.2d at 177. We give weight to the district court’s findings of fact, but are not bound by these findings. Perkins v. Madison County Livestock & Fair Ass’n, 613 N.W.2d 264, 267 (Iowa 2000). We defer to the district court’s assessment of witness credibility. Id.
Statute of Limitations. Jiggs contends the November 7, 1991, bill of sale on farm equipment, the 1992 and 1993 annual gifts, and the $50,000 wire transfer to his joint account with Mike were fraudulent transactions. There is a five-year statute of limitations on actions based on fraud, Iowa Code § 614.1(4), and the cause of action will not be deemed accrued until the fraud complained of is discovered by the injured party. Van Wechel v. Van Wechel, 178 Iowa 491, 159 N.W. 1039, 1041 (1916).
The November 1991 bill of sale for the farm equipment was prepared by Jiggs’s attorney. Jiggs argues the fraudulent acts were not discovered until 1998 when his two daughters, Marla and Roberta, found out about the transfers. We disagree. For the purpose of the discovery rule, the important date is when the “injured party,” here Jiggs assuming he was competent, discovered the alleged fraud. Howard Smith, a neighboring farmer and friend to Jiggs, testified Jiggs told him prior to Jeannie’s death he wanted Mike to eventually have the farms. After Jeannie’s death, Jiggs informed Howard of the transfer of farms and equipment to Mike and Tracy. Howard reminded Jiggs that he had three other children to consider but Jiggs stated that he wanted Mike to have the property. Attorney John Morrissey, who prepared the real estate contracts and the bill of sale, further testified that Jiggs was fully aware of the transactions and Jiggs was competent during their discussions.
The record establishes Jiggs knew what he was doing when he entered into the real estate contracts and sale of farm equipment on November 7, 1991, and therefore the statute of limitations for a claim based on fraud would run from that date, not from the later date when his daughters became aware of the transactions. Similarly, there is no indication in the record that Jiggs was unaware of the implications of the 1992 and 1993 gifts he made using his annual exclusions. Nor is there evidence Jiggs lacked knowledge of the May 1994, $57,063.45 wire transfer he made from his Texas account to his Iowa joint account with Mike as he called Mike and Tracy several times requesting them to place money into his account to cover checks he had written. We agree with the district court’s dismissal of the claims regarding the bill of sale for farm equipment, gifts of $40,000 in 1992 and 1993, and transfer of $57,063.45 to a joint account as based on fraud and are barred by the statute of limitations.
Confidential Relationship and Undue Influence. Jiggs next argues the real estate contract for the sale of the Jefferson County farm and the promissory note were the result of undue influence stemming from the confidential relationship he had with Mike. Jiggs asserts their close business relationship and Jiggs’s personal dependence on Mike resulted in Mike and Tracy exerting undue influence over him, which greatly benefited them.
A party challenging an inter vivos transfer premised on a confidential relationship has the burden of proving their cause of action by clear, satisfactory and convincing evidence. In re Estate of Todd, 585 N.W.2d 273, 277 (Iowa 1998). Once the challenging party meets the above burden, the burden then shifts to the party who benefited from the transfer to show he did not unduly influence the other party. Id. The benefiting party must do so by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence. Id.
A confidential relationship “is any relation existing between parties to a transaction wherein one of the parties is duty bound to act with the utmost good faith for the benefit of the other party.” In re Estate of Herm, 284 N.W.2d 191, 199 (Iowa 1979) (quoting Dibel v. Meredith, 10 N.W.2d 28, 30 (Iowa 1943)). If a confidential relationship exists, a transaction by the benefiting party at the expense of the other will be deemed presumptively fraudulent and voidable. Id. (citations omitted).
Jiggs and Mike farmed together for many years. Over those years, Jiggs contends they built a trusting business relationship in which Mike became a dominant business partner. In later years, Jiggs relied on Mike for many of the farming decisions, evidenced by Jiggs and Jeannie leaving Mike in charge during the winter months while they were in Texas. After Jeannie was killed, Jiggs was distraught and went to live with Mike and Tracy for a short time. Jiggs argues this created an environment of a confidential relationship with Mike which lead to the subsequent transactions at issue here.
Mike and Tracy counter by first asserting that a blood relationship and a business relationship by themselves are not sufficient to establish a confidential relationship. See In re Estate of Clark, 357 N.W.2d 34, 37 (Iowa Ct. App. 1984) (“A confidential relationship does not arise solely from blood relationship such as between parent and child.”). We agree that the mere blood ties and farming relationship do not rise to the level of proof required to find a confidential relationship absent other factors. While Mike and Tracy acknowledge that Jiggs was distraught after Jeannie’s death, it was only logical he would come to live with them for a period of time as he did not have a good relationship at that time with any of his other children. In addition, Jiggs offered testimony of Dr. Richard Nieman that Jiggs would not have been competent to enter into business transactions following Jeannie’s death and would have been susceptible to undue influence from close family members during the weeks following the accident. Mike offered contradictory expert testimony. The parties’ experts did not evaluate Jiggs in 1991. Instead, their testimony was based on medical documentation from 1992 that Jiggs suffered from post-concussive syndrome with superimposed major depression. The district court found this testimony unhelpful. We agree. Jiggs was clearly upset over the tragic loss of his wife. However, there is substantial evidence, apart from the medical records, Jiggs was fully aware of the transactions with Mike and Tracy and not unduly subject to their influence despite his loss. Following his brief stay with Mike and Tracy during which time the real estate contracts were entered into, Jiggs moved to Texas.
The evidence then supports that he lived independent of Mike and Tracy, to the extent that he remarried, built a home, and settled two personal injury cases on his own. Moreover, before Jeannie died it was well known that she and Jiggs desired Mike to take over the farms after they retired. At the time of Jeannie’s death, the couple was actively seeking life insurance to cover any farm debt so that the financial burden would not pass to Mike, should Jiggs die. This clear and long-standing intent for Jiggs to convey the farms to Mike, cast further doubt on later claims of confidential relationship and undue influence.
While the evidence shows Jiggs had a close personal and business relationship with Mike and Tracy, the evidence does not rise to the level of establishing a confidential relationship, such that the burden of proof would shift to Mike and Tracy to prove they did not exercise undue influence over Jiggs in the disputed transactions.
Jiggs also asserts he did not have independent counsel for the transactions with Mike and Tracy. John Morrissey represented Jiggs in the personal injury action arising out of the accident. Jiggs also retained Morrissey to prepare the documents for the transactions with Mike and Tracy. Because Tracy worked in the law office with Morrissey, Jiggs claimed Morrissey was really working for Mike and Tracy. However, it is undisputed that Mike and Tracy were not involved in the numerous discussions between Morrissey and Jiggs about the transactions, nor were they consulted in any way. There is no indication in the record that Morrissey was doing anything but looking out for the best interests of Jiggs.
For all the above reasons, we agree with the district court’s determination that the real estate contract for the Jefferson County farm and the transfer of $90,000 did not involve the exertion of undue influence by Mike and Tracy.
Promissory Note. Jiggs finally claims the $90,000 secured by a promissory note was intended as a loan not as a repayment for his contributions to the farm. The promissory note was executed December 31, 1992. Mike testified he used the $90,000 to pay on his line-of-credit debt from farm operations. The note stated it was payable on demand with a seven percent per annum interest rate, however Jiggs never demanded payment until just prior to the filing of this action. On June 1, 1994, the note was hand-marked as “paid in full EH McDowell” when it is undisputed neither Mike nor Tracy had made any payment on the note. Jiggs disputed making the notation but the district court found his testimony to lack credibility. While the attorney who drafted the promissory note testified that he believed Jiggs expected to be repaid for the funds, there was also evidence in the record that Mike and Jiggs did not use promissory notes for their intended purposes but rather as a means to avoid the tax consequences of making gifts. Even Jiggs did not testify that he expected to be repaid the funds. We therefore agree with the district court finding that the $90,000 promissory note did not secure a loan of funds.
In summary, we affirm the district court’s dismissal of certain claims having exceeded the statute of limitation, affirm the finding that the transfers and gifts were not the product of a confidential relationship or undue influence, and of finding the promissory note did not represent a loan of funds.
AFFIRMED.[3][1] Prior to trial, Jiggs dismissed his claim involving the Van Buren County farm.
[2] Jiggs has a fourth child, Roger McDowell. Roger was not a part of this litigation nor did he testify at trial.
[3] The appendix filed in this case was unnecessarily voluminous. We prompt appellant to comply with Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 6.15, by including only relevant portions of the record in the appendix, thereby reducing both printing expense and the burden on the appellate courts in referencing points on appeal. SeeState v. Oppelt, 329 N.W.2d 17, 21 (Iowa 1983).
They had the following children.
+ 555 F i Irma Maxine McDowell was born on 29 May 1918. She died on 18 Jan 1975. + 556 F ii Emma Pauline McDowell. 557 M iii R. G. Franklin McDowell Jr. was born on 2 Aug 1922 in , Henry, Iowa, USA. He died on 14 Jan 1941 in Salem, Henry, Iowa, USA. He was buried in Salem Cemetery, Salen, Henry, Iowa, USA. + 558 F iv Clara Ellen McDowell. + 559 M v Emerson Horatio "Jiggs" McDowell. + 560 F vi Ramona Geraldine McDowell.