[The man who died was Thomas J. Wilson. The merchant, Mr. Gill, is believed to be John T. Gill.
 The location is believed to be the settlement of West Point (later called Butler). See 
 May 26, 1855 edition of the Texas State Gazette, Page: 307 for more info.]


Galveston Weekly News - June 12, 1855 - Page: 1
  The body of Thomas J. Wilson, the man buried alive in the well of Mr. Gill, at
Pine Bluff in Freestone county, has not yet been taken out, though we are 
informed that it is the intention of Mr. Gill to do so in a very few days, and 
give the body christian interment. We publish the following letter which was 
found in the clothes or bundle of the deceased, in the hope that it may possibly
open some clue by which the friends of the unfortunate man may ascertain his 
whereabouts and untimely end. The letter is addressed to him by his father, and 
is dated Liberty Township, January 8, 1855. The state is not mentioned, and the
county is badly written as to be unintelligible. It is something like "Montoileer."
  "My Son: I received your letter January 7th last, and was very glad to get a 
letter from you, for I thought you were certainly dead, as I had not heard from
you for a long time. Your step mother is dead. I am in good health, and so are 
all of your sisters and brothers-in-law. I heard that Alvin* was going to get
married and go to Alabama. How true it is I cannot tell, he never wrote to me in 
his life, for which I wonder. I have heard nothing from Washington for five or
six years. Elijah is preaching the gospel in the lower counties of Pennsylvania.
I this day send him your letter, that he may read it for himself. You may expect
a letter from him shortly. I am living in the same place that I did when you
were here, and getting it farmed by different farmers I had good luck with corn 
and buck wheat last fall. I have killed some fine hogs this fall. So that I will
have good meet [sic, meat] by the time you come home. Please to come home in the
spring as you anticipated. I will be glad to see you, and hear what wonders you 
have to tell us. I have no more at present, but send you my New-Year's wishes.
                           Wm. H. Wilson.
  -----
  * This may be a mistake, as the name is badly written
  This letter was directed to Magnolia, Anderson County, Texas to Thomas J. Wilson.
We should judge from the language of the letter that is writer is perhaps a 
resident of the State of Ohio or N. Y. If this should meet the eye of the relatives
of the deceased they can get information concerning his death by addressing Mr.
Gill, Troy Freestone county, Texas, or this office -- Leon Pioneer, May 30."