Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design is "to provide a device to be applied upon the rump of the animal for the purpose of attachment of the back-strap, the trace-bearers or breeching-straps, and the crupper-strap without sewing. [The] device comprises, essentially, a frame carrying a buckle for the attachment of the back-strap and one for the attachment of the crupper, and a loop for retaining the trace or breeching carrying straps or hip-straps" (lines 9-18).

Patent for a "device whereby, in a harness, the back-band and belly-band may readily be connected to a trace-buckle, or a breeching-loop or 'trace-square'" (lines 10-13) without sewing the buckle into other harness pieces.

Patent for a new and improved weight-motor. This design consists in "the drum having the ratchet-wheel, the gear-wheel having the pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel, the lever extending from the track and adapted to be operated by the wheels of a passing train, the push-rod attached to the said lever and adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel to rotate the latter, the rope attached to the drum and having the weights, the trip-lever to move the push-rod out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and the rod attached to the said trip-lever and having an arm extending in the path of the weight" (lines 48-59).

Patent for a new and improved process for manufacturing oil-cake. This design "involves but a very slight change in the process ordinarily practiced in the manufacture of oil-cake by compressing it to remove the oil and form the residue into a compact shapely mass; and it consists in providing a paper envelope in which to press the seed, instead of the cloth envelope or bag commonly provided for the purpose, whereby [the design] obtain[s] greatly improved results in the manufacture, and a new article of manufacture possessing improved qualities" (lines 9-18).

Patent for a new and improved planter. This design "consists in the detailed construction . . . by which the operator is enabled to see each seed in its passage from the planting-wheel to the ground, and so can guard against the disadvantage of some of the rows being only half planted, from the seed-spout getting stopped up, or from the planter-wheel failing to act properly, and in other improvements" (lines 13-21).

Patent for a new and improved harness-saddle. This design is "to provide a harness-pad and saddle-tree in which the pads or saddle shall be self-adjustable to the backs of the animals to which they are applied, and this without the employment of inner plates to enable the tree to be used for folded-leather, slip, or stuffed pads, as may be desired" (lines 9-15).

Patent for a new and improved gag runner. This design "relates to a bearing device on a bridle for the reins; and it is [the design's] object to afford such a device, the construction of which shall permit its adjustment in position in the bridle without sewing it to the throat-latch" (lines 8-12).

Patent for a new and improved cultivator. This design "is to provide a device to enable the shovels of the cultivator to yield when they strike an immovable object—such as a stone or stump—and thereby prevent the cultivator-shovels from being broken, and more especially in time-saving in readjusting the shovel for plowing" (lines 14-20).

Patent for a new and improved cotton-packer. This design consists "[i]n a press, the combination of a press-operating shaft having a wheel upon its outer end provided with parallel concentric flanges upon its face, a shaft having connection to the driving-power, and having a friction-pulley upon its inner end" (lines 99-104). It further consists in "a bearing for the inner end of the shaft having two longitudinal slots sliding upon bolts, a lever having its end pivoted to the sliding bearing for shifting it, and a brake bearing with its shoe against the wheel" (lines 1-5).

Patent for a new and improved cotton chopper. This design consists in "wheels, axles, shafts, and plow-beams of a cultivator, of the bar pivoted to the plow-beams, the lever-handle pivoted to the bar, the hoe on the lower end of the lever handle, the [other] shaft, the cam on said shaft, the jointed lever having its forward end forked and its rear end slotted, the gear wheels, the clutch, the [other] lever, and the catch" (lines 66-74).

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design consists in "[t]he combination of a draw-head, the laterally-movable pin-retaining arms supported therein, and a pivoted wing normally held in the path of an approaching link, and arranged to distend the arms to drop the pin when acted on by the links" (lines 30-35).

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to Paul Osterhout. Gertrude wrote to inform Paul about wedding preparations their family was helping to make. She also wrote that their father sold the stocks to a business he was involved in and might start up a small one of his own.

Letter from Ora Osterhout to Paul Osterhout. She wrote to inform Paul that their mother had been sick in bed, but was starting to feel better. At the end of the letter, she included a message from Gertrude asking if Paul would fix Gertrude's watch again.

Letter from John Jeremiah Osterhout to Paul Osterhout. He wrote his brother to update him on the affairs of their family. He informed Paul that their mother had recovered from being sick, a mutual acquaintance wants to go into the book business, a troupe that came through and performed, and other small events around the farm.

Letter from Ora Osterhout to Paul Osterhout. Ora wrote to update Paul on what was happening at home. She informed him of the weather, her school work, and a change in attitude their brother has undergone after getting married.

Letter from Ora Osterhout from Paul Osterhout. She wrote to tell Paul what had been happened at home. She included information about the weather and what family members had been doing such as how their father tried to fix their water pump and wanted to purchase more cows.

Letter from John Jeremiah Osterhout to Paul Osterhout. John, signed as Jerry, sent his brother a money order from him and Gertrude to help Paul.

Letter from Ora Osterhout from Paul Osterhout. She wrote to tell her brother that she wanted to hear from him more often and what was happening with their family. She told him that Gertrude sent him some money and that their father might be able to send some too. Gertrude has been thinking about attending school in Independence and Ora wrote of a garden that they had started.

Postcard from John Patterson Osterhout to his son, Paul Osterhout, regarding requests from others that he was passing along. A doctor wanted Paul to look up where and for how much he could obtain a couple of books. The doctor was also waiting on Paul to let him know what the cost would be to get to where he was.

Letter from Ora Osterhout to her brother, Paul Osterhout, with news from home. She expressed concern over her brother's profession as a doctor since recently, a doctor in Belton was blamed for the death of a patient. Among other local gossip, Ora mentioned that their brother, Jeremiah, and his wife did not allow each other to leave without the other as they were jealous of them talking to members of the opposite sex.

Postcard from John Patterson Osterhout to his son, Paul Osterhout, regarding finances. John wanted to send his son money to return home, but he had to wait until he had more.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his son, Paul Osterhout, regarding Paul returning home for a visit. John recommended Paul get his certification to practice being a doctor before he graduates. John sent what money he could and if Paul was able, he had a list of people he wanted Paul to try to visit.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his son, Paul Osterhout, regarding Paul's return home. John sold Paul's bike and sent him money to help him afford the trip home. John expects his other son, Jeremiah, and his wife to have a child soon because she has been staying with their family for long periods of time. John mentioned that their town, Belton, was worried that their oil well would leave town and they would have to rely on the college for their future.

Weekly newspaper from Temple, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with extensive advertising.