In Praise of Hiram Wilson
THE STORY OF A 19TH CENTURY GUADALUPE COUNTY POTTER
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About the Book
This book is written to chronicle the life and deeds of Hiram Wilson, her great, great grandfather and give him praise for all he accomplished for himself and the community so soon out of bondage.
Hiram’s story is one that evokes wonder and awe. Wonder and awe because of the circumstance in which he was born, a slave, and lived the bulk of his life as a slave. However, it is what he did after slavery and the accomplishments he was able to achieve in the short remaining years of his life that makes his life story so amazing.
He was born a slave in Mecklenbury County, North Carolina. Traveled with the slaver owner, a Presbyterian Minister into Missouri, then on into Texas when the slave issue heated up there.
Hiram learned the craft of pottery making while working for the slave owner in his pottery shop. After emancipation Hiram made use of his knowledge as a potter and started his own pottery business along with other slaves. The are credited with being the first black business entrepreneurs in Texas. He was innovative and prosperous at pottery making. Being an adept man and desiring to use his good fortune to make life better for all, with the help of a Baptist Missionary he was able to purchase land enough to start a community. A community for all the freedman that journeyed with him into Texas in 1856 as slaves of the Presbyterian Minister.
The book continues to relate all of Hiram’s accomplishments, his altruistic nature that drives his desire to help provide ways for all in the community to advance to a better life without strife. It points out that even though in bondage he was able to see the positive side of the slave owner and pattern parts of his life after him when given the opportunity after emancipation.
It tells of his vision, ingenuity, focus and hard work that keeps him advancing. He was the kind of man that used his foresight to involve others, seek help and guidance when needed and work with others to accomplish goals for the good of all.
The book carries the reader through Hiram’s life time, then relates what his descendants are doing to keep his heritage alive with the youth of the family and the public. We, as family members feel that his story and what he did transcends and goes beyond just the family, but is a Texas legacy as well to be embraced and shared with all Texans.
All funds from the sale of this book will go toward the building and support of the Wilson Museum.
We are nonprofit (501)(C)(3) organization and all donations or contributions are tax deductible. All contributions, gifts and donations are welcome and gratefully accepted.
For donations or contributions please send to:
Wilson Pottery Foundation
P.O. Box 681802
San Antonio, Texas 78268
About the Author
LAVERNE LEWIS BRITT was born in Guadalupe County and lived in Seguin until completing fifth grade. She moved with family to San Antonio, Texas, completing high school at Phyllis Wheatley High. Her graduate study and degrees were earned at Our Lady of The Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Education with Guidance and Counseling Certification, 1968 and 1975 respectively. She later became authorized and licensed as a Professional Counselor by the state of Texas. LaVerne was President of the Northside Independent Teachers Associations (NITA). She also became an accomplished artist, often exhibiting her works with the Southwest Ethnic Arts Society and also served as President of the Art Society. She retired from public school education after twenty two years service at Northside Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas. LaVerne met and married the late Joseph E Britt, Sr. and has three children from that union, Joseph E. Britt, Jr., Jan Britt Dixson, and Karl S. Britt. She became interested in genealogy after receiving a challenge to do her genealogy to prove her relationship to the 19th Century Potter, Hiram Wilson. He turned out to be her great, great grandfather. This launched her into many years of interest and family research that culminated into a huge genealogy book entitled Me and My Folks. This book contains genealogical history and all the family trees of the extended families. That done, her interest extends now into all facets of the family endeavors, past and present. She was instrumental in helping to acquire a Preservation Fund Grant from the Texas Historical Commission to preserve the Third Wilson Pottery Site, and helping to incorporate the family foundation: the Descendants of Hiram, James, & Wallace Historical Foundation. (D.B.A.) Wilson Pottery Foundation. Her interest in promoting the family history increases. She is working now to help establish a Wilson Museum. LaVerne has catalogued and indexed the Capote Cemetery and is now seeking to have the Capote Church and Cemetery officially declared historic by the State of Texas.