H. C. Dunton being first duly sworn deposes and says:

I am a resident of Los Angeles County over 21 years of age. I have resided for four years last past near the Pico Oil Springs in said county. On the 26th day of July A.D. 1877, I saw James Feore offer to Christopher Leaming, for record, a notice, of which annexed marked exhibit “A”, is a copy: At the time said Feore offered said notice for record, he was in the employ of the California Star Oil Works Company and was in such employ for some time afterwards. During the time aforesaid, I saw the said Feore, almost daily, and know of no other occupation that he had than the employment of the company.

H. C. Dunton

July 3, 1878






Exhibit “A”

Pioneer Petroleum Claim. July 23rd, 1877.
Notice of Location.

Notice is hereby given, that we the undersigned, an association of persons and each a citizen of the United States, having complied with the requirements of Chapter Six, Title Thirty Two, of the Revised Statues of the United States, and the local customs, laws, and regulations, in the San Fernando Petroleum Mining District, Los Angeles County, have located and do hereby locate, the tract of land hereinafter described as a placer claim, containing valuable mineral deposits, naptha, asphaltum, bitumen, petroleum, and other valuable mineral deposits. The said tract of land so located is situated in the said mining district, in the county of Los Angeles, state of California, shall by known as the Pioneer Petroleum Claim, and is more particularly described as follows: commencing at a point 1500 feet due north of the Pico Oil Spring, thence east 500 ft, thence south 3000 ft, thence 2333, 1-3 ft, thence 3000 ft, thence to the place of beginning.

James Feore
George Loomis
George F. Bragg
Reuben E. Raymond
James M. McDonald
C.R. Greathouse
Irvine Graham

All of San Francisco