The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-10-03
Jason Lothrop Discovers the Constitu-
ton of the Western Emigration
Company With Old Papers.
THE EARLY DAYS AT SOUTHPORT.
Full List of the Founders of the City is Di-
vulged by the Old Paper.-Had Been
Long Missing.

/
territory is the constitution OF the
Western Emig1 a,4on company, the
company which settled Southport.
After having been missed for more
than sixty years the original const1tu-
ton was found Wednesday by Jason
Lothrop, former county surveyor. Mr..
Lothrop was de1ving into box of for
gotten lore when he ran onto bunch
OF old musty papers and among them
was the long searched for constitu-
| ton.
The finding of the old constitution
is most important fact to writer's OF
the history of Southern Wisconsin, as
| it ab1ishes without any reason Tor
bubble the identity of the men who
made the first settlements along the
lake within the confines of the terri
tory of Wisconsin. The old const1tu-
ton was written in the spring of 1884,
but every line and mark of 1t is still
1egib1e and the names of the subscrib-
ers are signed in the bold hand of the
pioneer.
Along with the papers of the con st1-
tuition were found many papers which
throw new light on the early history
of Southport and Kenosha. Among
the list are receipts showing that
trip to Chicago in 1885 cost ten dollars
and another shows that it cost the
Western Emigration company over two
| hundred dollars to have a man hold
down claim. The early life of the
people of Southport is shown forth in
book containing the minutes of the
meetings of the Western Emigra ton
company after the members of the
company had arrived at Kenosha.
The old constitution which is of
more than usual interest was written
by Warters Tows1ey. In the first few
clauses provision is made for the form
alton and naming of the company and
the provisions for the management of
the company are given as follows:
Article 6. The Exploring Commit
tee aforesaid shall be invested with
full power to act in the name, and on
behalf of said stockholders in desig-
mating the location and securing the
possession or title to the land in their
own names for the benefit of the said
stockholders, which they may pur-
chase or secure as aforesaid, and shall
receive each the sum of one dollar per
day for their time and expenses in
travelling and exploring, except stage
and boat fare, which are to be extra;
provided said committee shall not ex-
coed in their expenses and services the
sum of four hundred dollars.
Article Z When the capital stock of
two hundred and forty shares shall all
be subscribed for the same shall be
faithfully distributed among the sub
scribers by Warters Towsley, Jason
Lothrop, Alfred Cary, Sydney Roberts
and Charles w. Turner, who are here
by appointed Commissioners for that
purpose, in such manner as shall best
conduce to the interests of the Com
pany and to them seems proper and
expedient.
Article 8. When the distribution of
the stock shall have been made by the
Commissioners aforesaid, a certificate
for each share of stock shall be issued
and signed by the Chairman and Sec
rotary of the Company in their official
capacity and delivered to the owner of
the same, as provided in Article 4.
Article 9. Every person, to whom
one or more shares of stock shall be
distributed, shall become a member OF
said Company, after having subscribed
this Constitution, and not otherwise,
and shall have a right to vote on all
questions before the Company when
duly assembled for the transaction, OF
business.
Article IA. The lands purchased
with the stock of the company, or &C
quired by the committee for the stock
holders, shall be disposed of IN such
manner and upon such principles as
shall be agreed upon and directed by
a ma iority of the stockholders upon
the location, when the overs of q
ma jority Of the stock shall have ar
rived there, estimating and voting
however, according to the provisions
! of Article IS. No meeting can be
y called at the new settlement until the
: holders of ma jority of the stock as
e per votes shall have appeared upon the
, Location prior to the fifteenth day Of
|. May, 1886, when all upon the location
! shall have due notice of time and place
of meeting; but nothing herein con
!. tanned shall prohibit the calling of {
g meeting for the transaction of the
J, business of the company at or afte1
the 18th day of May, 1886, by those
, who may then be upon the location.
Article IS. For the purpose of Sc
curing to the company the profits ant
:. benefits arising from the augmented
valuation of the lands lying contigu
Gus to the company's location and a
: the same time to preserve invio1ate th'
principle of Equality of Rights" th'
> stockholders covenant and engage will
each other that the company shall (st
! far as relates to the stockholders
rightfu11y exercise over said contiguous
. lands the control and supervision
subordinate, however, to the govern
ont or fI - owners of said Ia nd