Minutes of the Bellville, Texas Town Meeting on January 18, 1858, which was called in memory of the recently deceased Thomas Bell, "the father of Bellville," who arrived in Texas in 1822 and settled in Austin's Colony and served under Ben Milam during the Texas Revolution.

Bexar County, Texas store license no. 947 for Mrs. Reed. The license gave Mrs. Reed the ability to own a store in Bexar county from January 1, 1865 to January 1, 1866.

The first extract is from Burgess Osterhout to May Patterson Frear Osterhout, referred to as Mrs. Paul Osterhout, discussing what he had found at the Osterhout library. He found their family coat of arms and promised to mail her a photo of it. The second letter fragment is from George E. Osterhout to May Patterson Frear Osterhout regarding a marker for Jeremiah Osterhout's wife, Juna Reno.

General pass for John Patterson Osterhout from the Provost Marshal General's Office. The pass allowed John to travel in Texas under oath that he would not leak any information about the Confederate States of America.

Invitation to a reception and ball in honor of James E. Ferguson inauguration as governor at Austin, Texas. The inside of the invitation includes a list of those serving on the executive committee.

Letter from Ann Farman to her brother, John Patterson Osterhout, discussing her family and daily life. She wrote of the recent death of a politician that she attributed to drinking. She told him what she knew about their family and acquaintances in La Grange. She closed the letter by saying how things had been at home and that they had some snow recently. Included is an envelope addressed to "Hon. John P. Osterhout."

Letter from Chloe Smith to her uncle, John Patterson Osterhout, discussing the family. She wrote about how she and her mother were coping with the loss of her father. She told him that his son, Paul, had returned home. Included is an envelope addressed to "Mr. J. P. Osterhout."

Letter from Elvira Spurgin to Bettie Wade discussing recent news of family and friends. She mentions that the weather has been very cold in Belton, and she has some new boarders. Someone named Loraine had typhoid fever.

Letter from George E. Osterhout to Paul Osterhout regarding what he has been doing recently. George took part in a recreation of a Japanese wedding and went to see a play at the opera house. He ended the letter by telling Paul that he and another family member had settled their dispute over a barn.

Photocopy of a letter from Gertrude Osterhout to John Patterson Osterhout. She wrote her father to update him on her life at school. Gertrude apologized for having committed a sin and not confiding in her father. She spoke briefly about the weather and her brother, Paul.

Photocopy of a letter from Gertrude Osterhout to Junia Roberts Osterhout. She wrote to tell her mother about her return to the boarding house after Christmas. She related how her trip back went and that it was her birthday. She requested money for a dress and postage stamps.

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 John Patterson Osterhout to his daughter, Gertrude Osterhout, about what was happening in Belton, Texas. He told her that she should have written sooner if she wanted a reply letter earlier. He regretted telling her that he had found out about her dancing at a local party and a committee had been organized to investigate the incident. He advised her to write the committee a letter lest they rescind her membership in the church.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his brother regarding his time in Bellville, Texas. He was appreciative of his brother sending him news from home and told him about a real estate sale that had happened recently. People from the U.S., Germany, and Bohemia were in attendance and alcohol was passed around. Money has been short in Bellville because of the cotton and corn crops failing. John needed to borrow money and requested a loan from his brother or anyone else in the family. He requested that his brother write again soon with more news from home.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his wife, Junia Roberts Osterhout. He wrote to let her know about how his work as a judge was progressing. He included information about his accommodations and speculated about the idea of raising foal.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his wife, Junia Roberts Osterhout. He informed his wife that he might be able to return home soon, depending on the weather. He sent along other bits of local news and how the ones he was traveling with were faring.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his wife, Junia Roberts Osterhout, discussing his time with the Confederate Army. He was grateful to receive her letters from home and detailed the marches that he had been enduring. Like many of the other men felt unwell, he felt unwell, and they were preparing for battle when he concluded the first part of his letter. The second part was written the next day after the soldier's new camp had been secured. The men were living off of a diet of oysters that day and John thought they might be reorganizing later that month. He wished he could see his children, especially his eldest son, Paul Osterhout, and hoped they would stay safe.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his niece, Sally Osterhout. He wrote her after receiving a letter a couple weeks prior. He was glad to hear his mother was well and told Sally what was happening with John and his family. He mentioned some of the cases he was working on, his children's schooling, and how his wife had recently come down with a pneumonia.

Letter from Junia Roberts Osterhout to her husband, John Patterson Osterhout. She wrote about work that was being done around their home, including gathering wood and field work. In the letter, she mentioned how she and the children were getting along while he was away and that she hoped he would return home soon.

Letter from Lizzie Roberts to her sister, Junia Roberts Osterhout, discussing Junia's health, the possibility of war, and other news of family and friends. She says that she has become "dissatisfied" with where she lives and would like to go home to the North.

Letter from M. A. DeWitt to sister regarding family affairs. DeWitt told her about how nearby relatives were doing and about a wedding that had occurred recently.

Letter from Mary P and H. J. Chamberlin to Ora Osterhout regarding news she had heard from the Osterhouts. Mary appreciated hearing from the family and told Ora that they should take good care of their mother. She included other small bits of gossip. Her husband wrote his own brief letter on the back and expressed his gratitude for the Osterhouts.

Letter from Ora Osterhout to her sister with news from Belton, TX. She wrote about letters that had been received from other family members and who was planning to visit soon. She told her sister that their brother, Paul, had brought gifts for them and that she wanted her sister to bring her one, too.

Letter from Paul Osterhout to his father, John Patterson Osterhout, discussing his time in Independence, Texas. He told his father that he let his sister, Gertrude, read the letter from home and described how much money he had spent recently. He ended the letter by writing that he had to prepare a composition for class.