Just a few miles southeast of Seguin off Farm Road 466, in the small community of Capote, you can drive past one of the greatest archeological treasures of Guadalupe county. For there you will find the remains of the Hiram Wilson pottery.
Hiram, and his brothers Andrew and James, were the slaves of Prebyterian minister John McKamie Wilson before the Civil War. They learned how to make pottery from the rich Guadalupe clay from Reverend Wilson, and after the war, they established their own pottery.
This was one of the first business owned and run by freed slaves in Texas.
While browsing boothes at the Pecan Fest trade days, I came across several tables filled with old pots, including at least one Hiram Wilson and Company pot.
The Wilson brothers began their business in 1869. The Wison pots were utilitarian service pieces made of a salt glazed stoneware. They are highly coveted by collectors. Here is an example of the brother's work, with their company name stamped near the rim.
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