In force, 27th Feb.[February] 1837.
AN ACT to incorporate the Jacksonville Mechanic’s Union.
1Persons incorporated.
Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That A. W. Newcomb, S. S. Brooks, B. R. Houghton, James G. Edwards, R. T. McKneely, A. W. Norris, Willinm Davis, John Henry, C. Leedham and James Johnson, and their associates and successors be, and they are hereby constituted a body politic
and corporate, under the name of the Jacksonville Mechanics’ Union, for the purpose of affording relief to the sick and disabled members thereof, and
to the widows and orphans of deceased members, and for the promotion of literature,
science and the mechanic arts, and for no other purpose whatever.
Name.
Powers.
May make a constitution.
May alter or amend it.
Proviso.
Sec. 2. The said corporation by the name of the Jacksonville mechanics’ union, is declared and hereby made capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded;
to have a common seal, and the same to alter or renew at pleasure, to make and adopt
a constitution and by-laws for the government of the corporation, not inconsistent
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with the laws of this state or the constitution of the United States, and the same to alter or amend whenever it may be deemed necessary; provided, that the said corporation shall not hold more than five acres of land with the improvements thereon, for a
longer term than one year, except such as may be donated to, and for the sole use
and behoof of the corporation.
Officers and term of service
Sec. 3. The officers of this corporation shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and a board of
seven directors, who shall continue in office for the term of one year, and until
their successors are elected, together with such other officers as may be provided
for by the constitution and by-laws of the corporation; the duties, rights, privileges and liabilities of the aforesaid officers to be defined
by the constitution, and by laws of said corporation.2
Fines for non-attendance, & how recovered.
Sec. 4. All fines and forfeitures for non-attendance, delinquency imposed by the constitution
and by-laws, provided for in the second section of this act, not exceeding twenty five dollars,
shall be recoverable by action of debt, before any justice of the peace of the proper
county, by the said company in their corporate capacity, which shall be for the use of the corporation.
Sec. 5. This corporation shall not be dissolved nor a dividend made of its funds, while there are seven resident
members in favor of its continuance.
Sec. 6. The Legislature hereby reserve the right to amend or repeal this act, whenever in ther opinion the public good may require it.
Sec. 7. This act to be in force from and after its passage.
Approved February 28th, 1837.
1On January 2, 1837, William W. Happy in the House of Representatives presented the petition from a group of mechanics in Jacksonville, requesting an act of incorporation for purposes described in the petition. The House
referred the petition to a select committee. In response to this petition, Happy of
the select committee introduced HB 63 in the House on January 3. The House passed the bill on January 20. On January 24,
the Senate tabled the bill. On February 8, the Senate took up the bill and amended it by striking
out the fourth section. The Senate passed the bill as amended on February 9. On
February 25, the House concurred in the Senate amendment. On February 28, the Council of Revision approved the bill, and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 154-55, 229, 312, 532, 719, 766; Illinois Senate Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 267, 279, 283, 365, 374, 536, 552.
Printed Document, 2 page(s), Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed at a Session of the General Assembly (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1837), 131-32, GA Session: 10-1