Chap. 385.—An ACT to Incorporate the Farmers and Mechanics Benevo-
lent Fire Insurance Association of the Counties of Roanoke and Bote-
tourt.

In force April 2, 1873.

Whereas, it is represented that a number of the citizens of
Roanoke and Botetourt counties are desirous of forming them-
selves into a benevolent society or association, for the purpose
of giving aid and assistance to each other in cases of loss by
fire: therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That Laban Wal-
rond, John W. Day, E. J. Frantz, M. P. Frantz, Joseph C.
Moorman, Henry Garst, Sr., David Deyerle, T. B. Evans, W.
A. Petty, B. F. Moorman, C. Nininger, Caleb G. Nininger,
John B. Snouffer, J. O. Myers, H. J. Dent, I. S. Tompkins, J.
G. Richardson, Samuel Beckner, D. A. Morgan, W. G. Ninin-
ger, B. F. Nininger, J. R. Harrison, David Myers, Lewis Huff,
Smith Petty, D. H. Plain, George Cook, Peter Nininger, Jacob
G. Sperry, H. M. Bowyer, Matthias Noffsinger, A. A. Wood-
son, and such other persons as may hereafter become asso-
ciated with them, be and they are hereby created a body politic
and corporate, by the name and style of the Farmers and Me-
chanics Benevolent Fire Insurance Association, of the counties
of Roanoke and Botetourt, and by that name shall have per-
petual succession and a common seal, which it may alter or
renew at its pleasure, and may sue and be sued, implead and
be impleaded, contract and be contracted with, and make or-
dinances, by-laws and regulations consistent with the laws of
this state or of the United States, for the goverment of all
under its authority, for the management of its business, and
the due and orderly conducting of its affairs.

2. For the due organization of said association, it shall not
be necessary that any capital stock shall be subscribed, but to
corporators aforesaid and such others as may consent in writing
to become associated with them, or a majority of them, may
meet and organize at such time and place as a majority of them
may designate, of which reasonable notice shall be given in
the newspapers printed in-Salem and Fincastle. The officers
of the association shall consist of a president, vice-president,
secretary and treasurer, and so many directors as the by-laws
may provide for, all of whom shall be elected or appointed in
such manner and for such term as the said by-laws may pre-
scribe, and the admission of new members, as well as the with-
drawal and expulsion of any of the members, shall be regu-
lated by the said by-laws.

3. The said association shall have power to insure its mem-
bers against any loss or losses by fire, to an amount not ex-
ceeding, in any case, two-thirds of the estimated value of the
property insured, but it shall make no charge for such insu-
surance ; and in order to enable it to raise the means of paying
its liabilities, it shall be the duty of the board of directors, as
soon as may be after the happening of any fire for which the
association may be responsible, to assemble together and make
such assessment upon each individual member of the associa-
tion as the by-laws may authorize and provide for; which said
assessment shall be paid by such member within sixty days
from the time of its being levied. And if any member, or his
personal representative, on being applied to, shall fail to pay
his assessment within the period aforesaid, the same may be
recovered in the corporate name of the association, by motion,
after ten days’ notice, in the county court of the county where
such member or his representative resides.

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