Brock, Richard
(born: 1824 - died: 1906)Richard Brock, born a slave in Kentucky, was given as a wedding present to the daughter of his master. The daughter moved to Houston, TX and brought Brock with her.
Brock gained his freedom and became a leader in the Houston community: he owned a blacksmith business and became a land owner, helped found two churches, and had part ownership of the Olivewood Cemetery. The cemetery was the first for African Americans within the Houston city limits. In 1870,
Brock became the first African American Aldermen in the Houston city government. He was co-founder of the first masonic lodge in Houston for African Americans and also helped found Emancipation Park. The Richard Brock Elementary School in downtown Houston is named in his honor.
Brock is listed as a mulatto in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census. He and his wife Eliza (b. 1837 in Alabama) were the parents of five children; they would have five more children. In 1900, Richard Brock was a widow living with three of his daughters and two grandchildren.
For more see "Exhibit honors former slaves who emerged as pathfinders,"Houston Chronicle, 2/08/1987, Lifestyle section, p. 1; Tara White, "Park to be renamed for African-American leader," 3/28/2007, on the Houston Chronicle website ; Joe Sam, "Tour Emancipation Park as it prepares to commemorate Juneteenth," 7/17/2021, at the Click2 website; and Richard Brock (1824-1906) at the Find A Grave website (includes biography and photograph).