Goodhue County’s 1st Non-Native Potter
A German Potter named John Paul settled in Goodhue County in 1861 on a site later to become the clay pits of the Red Wing stoneware industry, about 11-1/2 miles South of downtown Red Wing. A historical marker at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 58 and 350th St is near that place.
His occupation was identified as “Potter on the 1870 Federal Census. Paul was a country potter, that is, he was a tradesman providing a service to the nearby population. In contrast to working in an industrialized factory, he worked alone, digging and preparing the clay and glazing materials, fashioning pieces on a foot-powered wheel, and tending the wood-fired kiln while the pieces were fired.
He made jugs, milk crocks, plates, pitchers, cups, jars and bowls, and sold them to neighboring farmers and, presumably, to merchants within a days wagon trip. Paul continued at this location until at least the fall of 1871, after which he moved to Shakopee, MN where by 1880 he became a brick mason.
There are only two known examples of his work, both on display at the Goodhue County Historical Society Museum in Red Wing.
Although Paul used clay from the same area that became the source of clay for the Red Wing stoneware industry, the ware he produced was lead-glazed earthenware. The defining difference between grades of pottery are the temperature at which they’ve been fired. Earthenware fires at a temperature of roughly 1700 to 2100 oF; stoneware to between 2100 to 2380 oF; and porcelain in the range of 2300 to 2550 oF. For reference, “red hot” ranges between 1000 to 1830 oF, while “white hot” is 2370 oF and above.
The resultant ware will be more thoroghly vitrified the higher the firing temperature, so it will be stronger and less porous than lower fired ware. Attaining higher temperatures requires more fuel and the ability of the kiln and firing process to achieve. However, depending upon the proportion of metallic oxides or salts contained in the deposit, some clays will blister, distort or melt if fired at higher temperatures. These considerations explain why different grades of ware are produced.
