Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his son, Paul Osterhout, discussing work. John was writing from his place of work, the post office, and gave Paul some advice regarding how he should go about receiving work from "G. O." John hoped to send his son to school at Baylor in the fall and promised to write again later.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his daughter, Gertrude Osterhout, discussing affairs at home. He wrote about his family's health and a show that came to Belton, Texas that his sons went to see. He told Gertrude that he hoped he would come to like the doctors she worked with and that his son needed to start working on their cotton crop.

Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his daughter, Gertrude Osterhout, discussing life at home. He wrote of a child that had died and that some of the family had gone to the burial. He then discussed in his letter how Gertrude and her brother, Paul, would be returning home.

Letter from Ora Osterhout to her sister, Gertrude Osterhout, discussing daily life in Belton, Texas. She gave Gertrude news about a recent death in town and about friends that wanted to send their love to Gertrude. She mentioned that their mother, Junia, had started a letter to their brother, Paul, but was unsure when it would be finished.

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

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

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

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

Patent for a new and improved boring machine. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of a circularly-adjustable rod carrying a pressure screw, an adjustable arm arranged on said rod and having its end or head concave on its underside and provided with bearing indentations or punctures, and a brace having a bearing end corresponding in form to said bearing indentations or punctures" (lines 16-24).

Patent for a device related to "velocipedes or wagons propelled by hand-power" (lines 20-21), including instructions and illustrations.

Patent for a new and improved oil lamp. This design calls for transparent material (e.g., glass) to be installed on the top of the oil chamber, so one can better predict the fullness, which prevents overflowing. Additionally, a second opening to the side of the main opening allows the oil chamber to be safely refilled while already lit.