Sec[Section]. 1^st An act To Incorporate The Town of Pekin
Be it Enacted by The People of the state of Illinois represented in general Assembly—That the resident Inhabitants of the Town of Pekin in Tazewell County are hereby Constituted a body Politic and Corporate to be Known by the name of the President and Trustees of of the Town of Pekin and by that name shall be Known in Law and have perpetual succession may sue and be sued plead and be impleaded defend and be defended in Courts of Law and Equity and in all actions and matters whatsoever may grant Purchase receive and hold real ^Estate^ and Personal property within the limits of said Town and no Other (Buryal Grounds Excepted) may Sell and Convey the same for the benefit of said Town. They shall have power to Lease any Lands That now are or which may hereafter be Reserved and appropriated To the use of said Town and to do all other lawful acts as natural ^persons^: may have a Right Common seal and alter the same at pleasure.

Sec 2^d That all that district of Country Contained within the following Boundaries, To wit, beginning at the north East Corner of Section Thirty five in Township Number Twenty five north of Range five west of the Third principal meridian in the County of Tazewell and State of Illinois Thence due South Two miles, Thence west [...?] Two miles, Thence north to the west Bank of the Illinois River Thence up the west Bank of said River to a point due west from the place of beginning ^thence East to the place of begining^ is hereby declared to be within the limits or Boundaries of the Town of Pekin.

Sec 3^d The Corporate Powers and duties of said Town Shall be vested in five Trustees, who shall fo^r^m a bord for the transaction of business; they shall be Elected anually on the second Monday in August by the

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by the Persons Residing in said Town qualified to to vote as hereinafter Provided to serve for one year and until Their successors are Elected and qualified: They shall be Citizens of the united states Twenty one years of age shall possess a freehold Estate within the limits of said Corporation: and Shall have been Residents in said Town one year next Preceeding The Election.

Sec. 4 That Samuel Pilsberry David C. Alexander Spencer Field John O. Hyde and Richard H. Snell be and they are hereby declared to be Trustees of said Town To serve until the second Monday in August next and until their successors shall be Elected and qualified

Sec 5 The Bord of trustees shall appoint their President from their Own Body shall appoint all other officers of their Bord and shall be the Judges of Elections and Returns of their own members a majority shall Constitute a bo^a^rd To do business but a smaller ^number^ may adjourn from day to day; and may Compell the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as the board may Provide They may determine The Rule of Proceeding punish the members for disorderly conduct and by a vote of two thirds of the whole number Elected Expel a member and make other Rules and Regulations for their own government as to them may seem proper and Expedient.

Sec 6. No Person shall vote for trustees of said Town unless he be qualified to vote for Representatives for the general Assembly and shall [have?] ^be Liable, to pay^ pay a Corporation Tax for the then Current year and shall [Provide?] [...?]^[have?]^ [...?] ^X^ ^and shall have Resided^

in1 said Town for at least three months next Preceeding the Election at which he offers his vote.

Sec 7 The board of Trustees shall have power to Levy and collect a Tax on all Real Estate and personal Property ^within the said corporation^ not Exceeding One per centum upon the assessed value thereof: To make Regulations to secure the general health of the Inhabitants To prevent and Remove nuisances To Establish night watches. To Erect Lamps in the streets and Light the same, To licence Ferries and Regulate the tolls thereof within the limits of said Town ^Corporation^ To Restrain and prohibit shooting, horse Racing houses of Ill fame: gameing, and other disorderly houses; to Provide for licencing: taxing and ^X^ Regulating or prohibiting ^(^billiard Tables:^)^ Theatrical and other Shows or amusements: to Regulate and Licence Merchants: inn Keepers: Groceries, and auctioners; to Establish and Regulate markets and Erect market houses. To widen, and keep in Repair Streets Sidewalks, lanes and alleys; drains and Sewers; To keep the same clean and free from incumbrances to dig wells and Erect pumps on the streets for the convenience of the Inhabitants: To construct aqueducts; to supply the Town with water: to Regulate the storage of gun Power and all other Combustible Materials: To provide and for the Prevention and Extinguishing of fires To Regulate the Police of the Town: To Regulate the Election of Town Officers to fix the Compensation of town officers: and from time to time to pass such Ordinances to Carry into effect the provisions of this act and the Powers hereby granted as the good of the Town may Require; ^and which may not be inconsistent with the laws of this state^ For the Breach of any ordinance any Justice of the Peace within the ^County^ Shall have Jurisdiction to hear

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and determine any of the aforesaid offences: Provided the same Shall be tried within the limits of the Corporation: and appeals may be taken and writs of Certiorari allowed from any such Judg[...?]ment in the same manner as now is or hereafter may be provided by law, for taking appeals from Judgments of Justices of the peace.

Sec. 8^[th?] That upon the application of Two Thirds of the Resident [...?] owners of Two thirds of the Real Estate Belonging to the Residents on any street or part of a street, it shall be Lawful for the board of trustees to levy and Collect a Special tax on all the lots on said street or parts of street, according to their Respective fronts for the purpose of Paveing the side walks on the said street or Part of Street

Sec. 9. That the board of trustees shall make adequate Compensation to any Person or Persons who may be injured by opening widening Extending or improveing any Street, lane al alley, or side walk within the Limits of the Town under the Provisions of this act to ascertain which the board shall Cause to be Summond, Twelve good and lawful men freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town not directly interested who after Being duly sworn for that purpose Shall Enquire into and take into Consideration as well the Benefits as the Injury

That may accrue to the party and Estimate and assess the Damages which would be sustained by Reason of the opening Extending, widening, gra^d^ing or Improveing of any Street: avenue, Lane, Alley or Side walk, and Shall moreover, Estimate the amount which other Persons will be Benefitted thereby and may Contribute Toward Paying Persons Injured, all of which They shall Return to the Bord of Trustees under their hands and seals, and the Persons or Persons who shall be benefitted and so assessed shall Pay the same in such manner as Shall be provided and The Residue if any shall be paid out of the Town Treasury.

Sec. 10. That the president and Trustees of said Town shall have the Right To Borrow on the Credit of the Corporation any sum not Exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars for the purpose of Erecting School houses Market house, and opening and widening, Improveing & Gradeing, The Streets diging Public wells, Erecting Pumps in the streets, and Constructing aqueducts to supply the Town with water: Improveing Public wharves and landing for boats, and for makeing and improveing any Public Road situated within Two Miles of The Town which the trustees shall think it for the Best interest of the Town To make & Improve, and also for Improveing leveing and Bridgeing a Road across the Illinois bottom from the Ferry on the west side of the Illinois river opposite said Town westwardly To the Peoria and Canton Road and To Receive donations for the Purpose of Carrying into Effect any or all of the Objects of the The objects Contemplated by The Provisions of this act.

Sec. 11. The President and Trustees of said Town shall have The Right to Licence and Regulate Taverns; to grant Licences to vend goods [...?] wares and merchandise, To Licence Ferries within The limits of The Corporation and shall also Provide for the Support and maintainance of the Poor within The limits of the Town.

Sec. 11. They shall have The Right To Establish and Continue a Ferry across The Illinois River at said Town; The Rates of Toll to be fixed and Regulated by the County Commissioners Courts of Tazewell and Peoria Counties in the same manner as is Prescribed by law: The President and trustees of said Town shall be liable for all damages sustained by any Person or Persons or Penalties incurd under the laws which now are or hereafter may be made for Regulating Public Ferries: And it is further Provided That the nett Proceeds arising from said Ferry after the payment of the expences of furnishing and Keeping The same, to be applied and Expendended towards makeing and Improveing the Road from the Ferry To the Bluff across the Bottom on the west side of the River: or the payment of money which may have been Borrowed and Expended on said Road, or in the payment of the Interest Thereon.

Sec. 12 The officers of said Corporation in addition to the trustees shall consist of one Clerk, one Treasurer, one Collector one Constable and three assessors, and one Street Commissioner, and such other officers as The Trustees of Said town may deem necessary.

sec 13 It Shall be the duty of the Board of trustees in such manner as they may hereafter Provide to

^to^ give notice of all Town meetings to be held to be held whether for Elections of trustees or any other Purpose arising under the provisions of this act[,?] By Posting up notices in three of the most Public places in said Town and stating the Object of such meeting Provided however that not less than three days notice of any Shall in any Case by given.

Sec 14. All ordinance shall be Published and posted up in Three of the most public places in said Town within Ten days after they shall be passed and if there be a newspaper Published in said Town shall also be published Therein within Ten days.

Sec. 15. That the bord of Trustees shall have Power to adopt such modes and means for the assessment and Collection of Taxes as they from time to time fix upon and determine and to prescribe the manner of selling Property when the Tax levied upon it is not paid Provided however that no sale of any Town Lots or other Real Estate shall be made until public Notice of the time and place Shall be given by advertisement in a Newspaper Printed in said Town or county if there by any published and Posting up written notices in Three of the most Public places ^in the Town,^ if There be no Paper Published Therein at least fifteen days Previous thereto.

Sec. 16, That when any Real Estate in said Town shall have been Sold by the authority of the Corporation for the non payment of any Tax that may have been levied upon the same, the sum shall be Subject To Redemption by the owner or owners thereof his or her or their Agent or agents within one year after the same shall have been sold by on paying to the Treasurer of the bord of Trustees of said Town for the use of the purchaser or Purchasers double The amount of Taxes for which

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The same was sold. Together with the costs of such sales: But should the said lots or parts of lots, or Real Estate so sold for the nonpayment of Taxes as aforesaid, not be Redeemed within the time specified there and in that Event it shall be the duty of the President of the Bord of Trustees of said Town to Execute a deed with special warranty, signed by the President and Countersigned by the Clerk thereof.

sec 17 It shall be the duty of the Bord of Trustees to Cause to be paid to the owner or Owners of Lots or Real Estate all monies which may have been paid to the Treasurer by them, over and above the amount of the Taxes for ^which^ they were sold. and the Cost of selling the same.

Sec 18. That the president and trustees of said Town shall whenever they may deem it necessary Order the formation of fire Engine Companies and fire hook and ladder Companies. The Fire Engine companies to Contain Each from fifteen To Thirty able bodied men The fire hook and ladder Companies to contain Each from Ten to twenty, which companies Shall be formed by voluntary enlistments and Shall be officered and governd by Their own Laws. Every member of said Companies Shall be Exempt from military duty and serving as ^X^ Jurors: during the Time he may belong to and serve in such Company—Except in cases of Insurrection or invasion.

Sec. 19 That the board of Trustees—for the purpose of Keeping the Streets and allys in Said Town and Corporate limits and the Public Roads passing from and through the Center of said Town in good Repair and to this End They are authorised To Require Every Male Resident of Said Town and Incorporated Limits, over the age ^of^

^X^ of Twenty one years and under Fifty years of age to Labour in said streets and alleys and Roads at least Three days in Each year and any Person who Shall be notified ^at least two days previous to the time of ^ by the street Commissioner, to perform such labour so assessed as is herein Provided and Shall fail or neglect to Perform the same shall forfeit and Pay the sum of one Dollar for Each day neglected to be performed and the Street Commissioner in said Town is hereby authorised: To prosecute such delinquent Person in the name of the President and Trustees of the Town of Pekin before any Justice of the Peace in said Town and said street commissioners shall be a Competent witness against said delinquent. and in case of default as aforesaid the Justice shall Render, Judgment, against the defendant for the amount so forfeited with costs of suit and Issue Execution forthwith.

Sec. 20 That Every officer of said corporation Shall before Entering upon the duties of his office take an oath or affirmation before some Judge or Justice of the Peace to support the Constitution of the United States and of this state and faithfully to discharge the duties of his office—and Provided also that the Treasurer and Collector, Before they shall Enter upon the duties of their offices file in the office of the Clerk of said Town A Bond with security to be approved

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by the Board of Trustees for the faithful Performance of their duties.

Sec. 21. That all of that district of Country Included within the Corporation limits of said Town be and the same is hereby Constituted into a district for the Election of one Justice of the Peace and one constable The County Commissioners Court of said County are hereby Required To Cause an Election To be held on the first Monday of August ^next^ and at ^X^ Each quadrenial Election Thereafter for the Election of one Justice of the Peace and one Constable in said ^Town^ and the Persons So Elected Shall have and Exercise The same Jurisdiction hold their officer by the Same Regulations in all Respects as other Justices of the Peace and Constables of this state.

Sec 22 This act shall not Extend so far as to authorise the trustees of said Town To Levy any Tax upon Merchants auctioners, Tavern ^Keepers^ or Ferries within the Bounds of the corporation of said Town—until the County Commissioners Court of said County Shall by an order to be Entered on the Records of said Court agree to Relinquish the Revenue arising from Licences of Merchants, auctioners, Ferries and Taverns, within the Bounds of the Corporation of said Town Provided That if such order of said Court shall be made the trustees of said Town

shall takeCharge Charge of all the Paupers within the bounds of said Corporation so as that the County Shall be free from any Charge on account of any Paupers in said Town.