Chap. 44.—An ACT to incorporate the Shenandoah Farmers’ Home
Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

Approved February 7, 1876.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
Levi Rinker, Robert M. Lantz, Isaac Bowman, Daniel O.
Bowman, William A. Wightman, G. A. Brown, F. E. Rice,
George C. Rhinehart and H. H. Hann, and those who may
be hereafter associated with them in the munner hereinafter
provided, and their successors, be and they are hereby de-
clared to be a body politic and corporate, by the name and
style of Shenandoah Farmers’ Home Mutual Fire Insurance
Company, and by that name may sue and be sued, plead and
be impleaded with, in all the courts of law and equity in this
commonwealth or elsewhere, and have perpetual succession ;
to have, make and use a common seal, and the same to
break, alter or renew at pleasure; to ordain and publish such
constitution, by-laws, ordinances and regulations as they
think proper and wise, and generally to do every act and
thing necessary to carry into effect this act, or to promote
the object and design of this corporation: provided, that such
constitution, by-laws, ordinances, regulations, or acts be not
inconsistent with the constitution or laws of this state or of
the United States.

2. To make insurance upon dwelling-houses, stores, and all
other buildings in town or country, and upon household fur-
niture, merchandise and other property, against loss or dam-
age by fire.

3. That Levi Rinker, Robert M. Lantz, Isaac Bowman,
Daniel O. Bowman, William’ A. Wightman, G. A. Brown,
F. KE. Rice, George C. Rhinehart and H. H. Hann, shall be
directors of said company until others are appointed by the
stockholders, of whom Levi Rinker shall be president, and
Robert M. Lantz secretary and treasurer; and the said pre-
sident, secretary and directors shall continue in office until
their successors are elected. In case of a vacancy in office
of president, secretary or directors, from any cause, the re-
maining directors may elect others to fill their places until a
meeting of the stockholders shall be held: five of said direc-
tors shall constitute a quorum for any and all business pur-
poses of said company. .

4, There shall be an annual meeting of the company for
the election of officers and directors, at such time and place
as the stockholders in general mecting may appoint. The
president and secretary elected by the stockholders at their
annual meeting shall be president and secretary of the board
of directors, and the said president, secretary and directors
shall continue in office until their successors are elected. At
any meeting of the said company, twenty-five members, in
person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
for business: provided, thut at the annual meeting of said
company for the election of officers, a majority of members
thereof, in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute
a quorum for such meeting. In all mectings of said com-
pany, each member shall be entitled to one vote for the frac-
tion of the first thousand dollars’ worth of property insured,
and one for each additional thousand dollars.

5. All persons subscribing to this charter of incorporation,
and pledging themselves to be governed by any constitution,
by-laws, regulations or requirements adopted by the said
company in pursuance thereof, their executors, administra-
tors, assigns and vendees continuing to be insured therewith,
shall thereby become members of said company, during the
time they shall remain insured therein, or until they shall
withdraw from the company in accordance with its pre-
scribed regulations.

6. The members of the company shall not be liable for any
loss, damage or responsibility other than that each member
shall be bound to contribute to the necessary expenses of
the company in proportion to the amount for which his pro-
perty is insured, and shall be bound to pay in accordance
with the provisions of the constitution, hereafter to be
adopted, to the proper officer of the company, the losses sus-
tained by fire by any fellow-member of the company.
7. Whenever a loss by fire is sustained by a member, the
president shall immediately convene the board of directors,
and upon proper proof of such loss, shall thereupon assess,
according to the provisions of such constitution as may here-
after be adopted, such sums upon the members of said com-
pany as are necessary to pay such loss,.and collect from each
member, at such time and times and in such proportion as it
may be valled for by said president and directors; and if
any member shall fail to pay the same so called for, it may
‘be recovered upon motion, after twenty days’ notice in writ-
ing, in any court of record.

8. This act shall be in force from its passage.