Any seven or more persons, residents in this state, may associate themselves into a society for the purpose of carrying on any lawful mechanical, mining, manufacturing or trading business, or of trading and dealing in goods, wares and merchandise or chattels, or of buying, selling, mortgaging, settling, owning, leasing and improving real estate and erecting buildings thereon, within this state, upon making and filing a certificate of association in writing, in the manner hereinafter provided.