Venard was born on a farm in Lebanon, Ohio, USA. He received his education at Waynesville Academy in Waynesville, Ohio. After moving to Newport (now Fountain City), Indiana, Venard became the first teacher of the joint town and township school. Because of his participation with the Underground Railroad, a bounty was put on him, so he headed to California in March 1850 with a group of 24 others in covered wagons, arriving in September 1850.
