The Brock family, descendants of some of the original settlers of the State of Texas, has a long history at Stratton Ridge in Brazoria County, Texas.

In 1820, Texas was under the control of Spain. Moses Austin, father of Stephen F. Austin, traveled to Texas to request land grants from the Spanish governor with the hopes of encouraging settlement by American colonists.

In 1821, two significant events occurred: Moses Austin died and Mexico won independence from Spain.

Stephen F. Austin continued his father’s mission and brought hundreds of families to Texas over the next several years. Although often referred to as the “Father of Texas,” Stephen was a bachelor and had no children of his own.  It was his sister Emily Austin Bryan Perry whose family grew to include some of the present owners of the Stratton Ridge property.

The J. E. Groce 5 League Grant (which includes much of the city of Clute, Texas), was originally granted by the Mexican Government to Jared E. Groce in 1824. Groce was a wealthy southerner who had moved to Texas in 1822 as part of Stephen F. Austin‘s “Old Three Hundred” – families encouraged to settle parts of Texas in exchange for free land. (See English translation of original Groce grant)

In 1827 Groce sold the southeastern portion – about 6,600 acres or 1 ½ leagues – to William C. White, another original settler. The next year, White sold to Stephen F. Austin and when Austin died in 1836, his sister Emily Austin Bryan Perry inherited the property as well as most of her brother’s estate.

Around 1847, Reterio Plantation (see map) was established by Moses Austin Bryan (Emily’s son) on the same 1 ½ league parcel along Oyster Creek.

For the next 20 years, Bryan family members lived at Reterio Plantation. The Civil War’s aftermath brought difficult financial times and Moses Austin Bryan had to sell off property to satisfy debts. In the 1870’s Henry Seaburn won a civil suit against Bryan and Reterio Plantation was seized by the sheriff. In 1876, William Joel Bryan (brother of Moses) purchased about half of the original of property at public auction.

In 1873, William Joel Bryan’s daughter Lavinia Bryan married James Thomas Stratton. The couple had four children – three sons and a daughter.

In January 1880, the property (described in deed as the “Groce Hacienda”) was given by William Joel Bryan to his only surviving daughter, Lavinia Bryan Stratton.  Lavinia died 2 months later in March 1880.

In 1897, Lavinia’s daughter Caroline Austin Stratton (Carrie) married Fred A. Brock of Galveston, the son of Captain Fred A. Brock.

In 1899, the Stratton family, owners of approximately 3,360 acres of what was known as the “Stratton Plantation on Oyster Creek”, partitioned the land between the 4 members: Carrie Brock (with husband Fred A. Brock), and her brothers:  Samuel Irwin Stratton, James Thomas Stratton Jr. and Joel B. Stratton (1899 handwritten deed).

Over the next few years parts of the Stratton plantation were sold, including the 598.4 acre tract from J.T. Stratton Jr. to C.J. Fulton and the 734.3 acre tract from Sam I. Stratton to Robert C. Storrie.

Because land was the most valuable asset in those days, it was a common currency in times of need.

The property has always been extensively farmed and ranched, but with discovery of the Salt Dome in 1913, Stratton Ridge began attracting interest for mineral exploration and mining.

Fred A. Brock was the Brazoria County Tax Collector during the early 1900s. This served him well when parts of the original Stratton Plantation (and other properties) became available for purchase.

In 1926, Brock purchased the 734.3 acre tract back from Robert Storrie.  He also purchased an additional 760 acre tract from Storrie that had been part of the original Bryan homestead and was north of the Stratton Plantation. (no price noted in the deed)

In 1927, Brock purchased the 598.4 acre tract back from the Fulton family for $7,500. (around $100,000 in 2015 dollars)

In 1941, Fred and Carrie Brock deeded the property – now known as “Brock Ranch at Stratton Ridge” – to their three adult children: Lois Brock Adriance, Fred A. Brock Jr. and J.T. Stratton Brock. It was around this time that Dow Chemical Company began operations in Brazoria County.

When Fred Brock died in 1945, management of the property passed to his children, then to his grandchildren and now to his great grandchildren – the 7^th generation of the Austin / Bryan / Stratton / Brock family.

In July 2015, “Brock Stratton Ridge, LLC” was formed to consolidate interests in the 2,861 acres on the Stratton Ridge Salt Dome.

Today, Stratton Ridge is utilized for variety of purposes, including mining, pipeline, storage and grazing, and is an active industrial area for Dow Chemical, Olin Chemical, Freeport LNG, BASF, Praxair, Phillips 66, LyondellBasell and other major companies.