JAMES M. VENTERS, M. D. The medical profession of Sumner County is represented by some of the most skilled and learned men of this calling to be found in the state, who have devoted themselves, their time, their energies and their lives to the preservation of public health and the alleviation of human ills. Theirs is no easy task, nor is it always remunerated as befits their high standing and undoubted great work, and yet they cheerfully accept the disadvantages, content in the knowledge of useful careers. The training of the modern physician is remarkably rigid and embraces not only a college course, but extended subsequent study, the constant changes and developments in the profession demanding the practitioner's closest attention, while the country physician has the added labor of covering a wide territory, always being compelled to hold himself in readiness to answer a call, irrespective of time or weather. One of the representative physicians of Sumner County, whose devotion to duty, professional skill and kindly sympathy has won him a high place in the esteem of the people of his community, is James M. Venters, M. D., of Portland, a man fitted by nature and training for his honored calling. Dr. Venters is a native of southwestern Virginia, and was born February 5, 1873, a son of G. M. and Rhoda (Branham) Venters.

John Venters, the paternal great-grandfather of Dr. Venters, was a native of England, from which country he emigrated to the United States, settling first in South Carolina and subsequently removing to Virginia, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. His son, James Venters, was born in Virginia and was a successful farmer, but late in life met with financial reverses. He served as a soldier during the war between the states and is now making his home in Kentucky, being eighty-seven years of age. On the maternal side, Dr. Venters' grandfather was Martin Branham, a native of what is now West Virginia, whose people came from South Carolina. As a young man he moved to Virginia, there taking up four thousand acres of land from the government, and this property he left to his estate at the time of his death. G. M. Venters, father of the doctor, was born in 1846, in Virginia, and in 1884 accompanied his parents to Kentucky, where he located in farming. He also followed horse trading, buying as many as five hundred animals at a time and taking them to Georgia, and this business he continued to follow until his death, which occurred in 1895. He was married to Rhoda Branham, who was born in 1848, and she died in 1882, having been the mother of seven children, of whom six are now living, Dr. Venters being the third in order of birth. The mother was a member of the Baptist church, and Mr. Venters was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.

James M. Venters received his early education in the public schools, following which he attended Lexington State College, where he remained two years. He next was a student in Hospital College of Medicine, of Louisville, which he attended from 1901 to 1904, in the latter year being graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Following this he was engaged in practice for two years in southeastern Kentucky, but in 1906 came to Portland and established himself in a country practice, now having a large and representative clientele. In addition to the onerous duties of a large practice, Dr. Venters also manages his 175-acre farm, which is in an excellent state of cultivation, and on which he raises tobacco, wheat, corn and hay. He is well-deserving of the title of self-made man, having started out in life on his own account at the tender age of ten years, since which time he has received no financial help whatever. His sturdy independence, tireless industry and commendable ambition have gained him the respect of all who know him, and Sumner county has no more popular young professional man. Fraternally, the doctor is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is a member of the Sumner County Medical Society, the Tennessee Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and takes an active interest in the work of these organizations, and his political proclivities cause him to support the principles and candidates of the Democratic party.

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