James was born at Dixfield, Oxford, Maine, on 24 August 1886. He was the son of
James Selden Sturtevant M.D. and
Celia Hankerson Wing. James Melvin Sturtevant M.D. married
Bhima Gertrude McDonald, daughter of
Thomas Edward McDonald and
Esther Johnston, on 15 December 1915 at Portland, Cumberland, Maine. James Melvin Sturtevant M.D. and
Bhima Gertrude McDonald were divorced in 1934 at Reno, Nevada. James Melvin Sturtevant M.D. married
Leonore Eugene Fernandes, daughter of
Jose Fernandes and
Gertrude Mary Kettenbell, on 25 March 1935 at New York City, New York. James Melvin Sturtevant M.D. died on 19 April 1970 at New London, New London, CT, at age 83. He was buried after 19 April 1970 at Greenwood Cemetery, Dixfield, Oxford, Maine.