SEGUIN, Texas — Many black families in America can’t trace their family lineage back to slavery, but the Wilson family of Capote, Texas can trace their story back to emancipation.

“Bertha Wilson and that’s my grandmother,” Paula King Harper said, looking at old family photos.

Texas roots run deep for Paula King Harper.

“I’m actually a fifth generation descendant of Hirum Wilson,” said Paula, president of the Wilson Pottery Foundation.

Wilson was born a slave. In the 1850s, his owner brought him to Capote, Texas, near Seguin.

“We knew about Capote. I grew up going to Capote as a small child,” Paula said. “I did not know about the history of the pottery, though.”

While enslaved, Hirum and his brother learned the art of pottery making. It's a skill they continued to use after emancipation.

“Hirum embarked on his own business and James partnered with him,” Paula said. “So they created H. Wilson and Company. They are known as the first black entrepreneurs in Texas.”

Now, centuries later, his descendants keep Hirum’s legacy alive through the Wilson Pottery Foundation.

“We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the museum,” Paula said.

Inside the Sebastopol House in Seguin, you can find their handcrafted pottery on display.

“They used crocks for everything,” Paula said. “Whether it was to store lard, milk, they churned butter.”

Some of their pottery is even at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and museums across Texas.

“The Wilson history itself is part of [the] Texas historical fabric,” Paula said.

The state register of historic places includes three Wilson pottery sites. Unfortunately, the foundation itself doesn’t own many of the artifacts, which now cost thousands of dollars each.

“That is one of our goals, is to actually own one of our stamped pieces,” Paula said. “These are very valuable. They don’t come cheap.”

But as she looks at these shards, Paula can’t help but think about Juneteenth and her ancestors being able to own 100 acres of land, post-slavery.

“They hit the ground running with their business and they showed us that you may be enslaved once but you don’t have to be enslaved forever,” Paula said. “He graduated from Wiley College. He actually came back and started some schools and churches.”

It's a legacy of freedom, from former slaves to hundreds of descendants celebrating today.

“I love our heritage,” Paula said. “I didn’t ask to be born into this family, but I’m glad I was.”