John Fluker-Bass was born in 1849 in Macon, Georgia. He was brought to Galveston from Georgia as a slave to Rebecca Fluker-Bass-Menard (1820-1869). It is possible that was a woman named “Sukey” who was sold to satisfy a tax debt Rebecca incurred while married to Charles Bass. There are few details about John’s life besides his father’s name George, and he lived at the Menard House. He married Ann Thomas and had a son named William Menard Thomas (1867-1941).