Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his wife, Junia Roberts Osterhout, and children. He wrote his wife while she was away. He told her that their son, Paul, was house-sitting for someone in the neighborhood and had the unfortunate news that a woman's baby had died.

Letter from Paul Osterhout to his mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout. Paul wrote his mother a letter he promised while she was visiting family. He told his mother that he was watching Brother Smith's house while the Methodists had a meeting elsewhere. Paul was working to get into the railroad business and mentioned that the youth in town had tried, unsuccessfully, to get a dance started. Included is an envelope addressed to "Mrs. J. P. Osterhout."

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her sisters, Ora and Junia Roberts Osterhout. She wrote to her sisters while they were visiting family with their mother. She let her sisters know of some guests that had stopped by to see them. Gertrude hoped that her younger sisters were behaving and enjoying their time with family.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his wife, Junia Roberts Osterhout, September 28, 1879. John began his letter with bad news. A fire broke out in Belton, Texas and John wrote of the difficulties he and his sons had in trying to save some of his books and papers. Otherwise, John says he and the children are in good health and mentioned work that Paul had done work in a telegraph office recently. Included is an envelope addressed "Mrs. J. P. Osterhout" and an article titled "Fire in Belton!" The article lists the losses incurred from the disaster.