In 1869, John M. Wilson sold his interest in the Guadalupe Pottery to his partner, Marion J. Durham. This sale may have prompted the establishment of a new pottery by men formerly enslaved by John M. Wilson. Hyrum Wilson (1836–1884), James Wilson (1847–1917), Wallace Wilson (born c. 1845), Andrew Wilson (dates unknown), and George Wilson (dates unknown) founded the firm that would be known as H. Wilson & Company. Hyrum, James, and Wallace became the principals of the new enterprise, one of the first African American owned businesses in Texas, which operated until 1884. Breaking from the southern tradition of using alkaline glazes, H. Wilson & Company appears to have used only salt glazing for its wares, a technique thought to have been introduced by Ohio native Isaac Suttles.

Jugs of various sizes held liquors, vinegar, oil, medicine, water, and other essential liquids in the southern household. As with large stoneware jars, their forms evolved from bulbous in the antebellum era to cylindrical by the end of the century—the result of increasing efficiencies in production and loading the kiln. Makers’ marks also become more common after the Civil War, as rising competition inspired some producers to advertise their pottery.