Julian was born on August 12, 1881, in Joplin, Missouri, United States. Julius C. Petit was his father and Esther Ann Archer was his mother. On the fifteenth of January, 1916 Julian arrived in China. Most of his life he lived and worked in Shanghai.
He got education at Walnut Public School. Also, Julian finished Kansas State University and Washington University (St. Louis).
Julian worked at St. Louis Hospital. Also, he held the office of a City Dispensary Physician. Moreover, Petit served as a U.S. Public Health Surgeon. He was a First President and Organizer of first Rotary Club in China. Julian was a Charter member and Organizer of Acacia (Masonic) College Fraternity.
In November 1913 Hazel and Julian got married.
